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gc  M.  L. 

974.402 
T62h 
v. 25-26 
1902753 


REYN  HISTORICAL 

GENE  COLLECTION 


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ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  00084  6284 


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THE 

HISTORICAL 
COLLECTIONS 


OF  THE 


TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


V,  *  3-m  "P  3*  10 

VOLUME  XXV 

1920 

TOPSFIELD,  MASS. 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  SOCIETY 

1920 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/historicalcollv25v26tops 


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GEORGE  FRANCIS  DOW 
Editor 


THE  PERKINS  PRESS 


CONTENTS 


■■■;-   THE  parson  capen  house        -        -.'       -        -        -  Frontispiece 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY,    1919  -  -  -  -         iv 

0  • 


A  ,    ANNUAL    REPORT    OF    THE    SECRETARY  ,  FOR    THE    YEAR    ENDING 

DEC.   31,   1919  -  -  -       ';-  -  -  -  -      V 

ANNUAL    REPORT  OF    THE    TREASURER   FOR    THE    YEAR     ENDING 

I       \'t  ■  •  .  _ 

-  dec.  31,  1919         ....         .         .         .  vii 

v        ANNUAL  REPORT  ON   THE   BUILDING   FUND  -  -  -     .      -         Vlll 

k  ESSEX  COUNTY  IN  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY  COLONY  AS  DES- 
CRIBED BY  EARLY  TRAVELERS..  COMMUNICATED  BY  GEORGE 
FRANCIS  DOW  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -        1 

J      COURT  RECORDS   RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD  (1669-1672)    ABSTRACT- 

j 

,  ED   BY  GEORGE  FRANCIS  DOW  -  .  -     73 

NEWSPAPER    ITEMS  RELATING    TO  TOPSFIELD    (1704-1780)    COPIED 

I  »■  — ' 

BY  GEORGE  FRANCIS   DOW         >■''•-  -  -  -  97 

PROBATE    RECORDS    RELATING    TO    TOPSFIELD     (1658-1680)    COM- 
MUNICATED BY  ELEANOR   LOUISE  WATERS           -                      -  101 
THE  COINS  OUR   FATHERS   USED.      BY  GEORGE  FRANCIS  DOW  121 
JUSTIN   ALLEN,   M.   D.,   AN   APPRECIATION.      BY    EPHRAIM    CUTTER, 

M.   D. .  .  .  -  144 

TOPSFIELD  VITAL  STATISTICS,    1919  -  -  -  -  -  145 

CHRONOLOGY  OF   EVENTS,    1919  -  -  -  -  -  -  .  148 

BUILDINGS  CONSTRUCTED,    1919  -  ...  148 


OFFICERS 

OF    THE 

TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 
1919 


President 

Charles  Joel  Peabody 

Vice-President 

Thomas  Emerson  Proctor 

Secretary  and  Treasurer 

George  Francis  Dow 

Curator 

Albert  M.  Dodge 

Board  of  Directors 

Charles  Joel  Peabody,  ex-officio 

Thomas  Emerson  Proctor,  ex-officio 

George  Francis  Dow,  ex-officio 

Franklin  Balch 

W.  Pitman'  Gould 

Leone  P.  Welch 

Arthur  H.  Wellman 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY 

OF  THE 

TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  DECEMBER  31,  1919. 


The  membership  of  the  Society  on  December  31,  1919  was  246. 
Eleven  new  members  have  been  added,  one  has  resigned  and  five 
have  died,  viz :  William  E.  Gould  of  Brookline,  Heman  C.  Smith  of 
Lamoni,  Iowa  (a  descendant  of  Asahel  Smith  of  Topsfleld,  the  father 
of  the  Mormon  prophet),  Charles  Henry  Dean  of  Cambridge  (a  well- 
known  architect  and  restorer  of  17th  century  houses),  and  Mrs. 
Hattie  Lamson  and  Baxter  P.  Pike,  both  of  Topsfleld,  who  were  charter 
members  of  the  Society,  joining  in  December,  1895. 

Four  meetings  have  been  held.  Papers  were  read  by  Rev.  T. 
Franklin  Waters,  President  of  the  Ipswich  Historical  Society,  on 
"Life  in  the  Olden  Time  as  seen  in  the  Newspapers" ;  by  Mrs.  George 
Warren  Towne  of  Danvers,  on  "Shawls,"  when  over  seventy  different 
examples  were  exhibited,  many  of  them  very  beautiful;  and  by  the 
Secretary,  who  read  extracts  from  Mrs.  Holmes'  novelette,  "Thornton 
Stanley,"  the  scene  of  which  is  laid  in  Topsfleld ;  and  on  another  oc- 
casion presented  a  paper  on  "The  Patchwork  Quilt  in  New  England," 
when  twenty-one  quilts  and  coverlets  were  exhibited.  At  the  shawl 
exhibition  there  were  forty-eight  present. 

Volumes  XXIII  and  XXIV  of  the  Historical  Collections  have  been 
published  and  distributed.  Ezra  Towne's  journal  of  his  wanderings 
in  the  Central  States  during  the  years  1831  and  1832 ;  Mrs.  Holmes' 
novelette— "Thornton  Stanley,"  with  Newspaper  Gleanings  (1869- 
1872),  Topsfleld  items  from  the  Quarterly  Court  Records  (1664-1669), 
a  genealogy  of  the  Howe  Family,  and  a  variety  of  miscellaneous 
matter  comprise  the  contents  of  the  two  volumes. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  in  the  early  fall  the  desirability  of  printing 
the  records  kept  by  the  town  clerks  was  presented  by  your  Secretary 
and  an  appropriation  of  $350.  was  voted  in  aid  of  this  publication. 
The  work  was  greatly  facilitated  by  the  availability  of  an  exact  copy 
to  the  end  of  the  year  1810  that  had  been  made  for  the  Secretary  not 
long  before.  At  the  present  time,  Vol.  I  (1659-1739)  has  been  complet- 
ed and  published  and  Vol.  II  (1739-1778)  is  in  type  and  being  indexed. 


VI  ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY. 

The  first  volume  contains  a  wealth  of  original  matter  reflecting  the 
life  and  manners  of  the  period.  Here  are  a  few  items,  viz  :  the  plant- 
ing of  tobacco  on  the  common  land  in  1687,  the  digging  of  "bog 
mine"  (iron)  in  1691  to  be  done  only  by  townsmen,  the  building  of  a 
stone  fort  about  the  meeting  house  in  1675  at  the  time  of  King 
Philips'  War,  and  the  fact  that  the  pulpit  was  varnished  in  1705.  In 
1701,  the  town  contributed  money  to  the  redemption  of  John  Heard 
from  Indian  captivity,  and  in  1693  it  voted  "that  goodwife  Nearland 
should  be  complained  of  [at  Quarterly  Court]  for  slandering  the 
wholl  Towne  of  Topsfield." 

In  the  last  annual  report  it  was  proposed  to  compile  the  statistics  of 
the  activities  of  the  town  in  the  Great  War  and  to  publish  the  same 
in  a  forthcoming  volume  of  our  Collections.  Since  that  time  your 
Secretary  has  assisted  in  the  compilation  of  such  a  review  and  record 
which  has  been  printed  at  the  Riverside  Press  at  the  expense  of  Capt. 
James  Duncan  Phillips,  who  commanded  the  local  company  of  Home 
Guards.  Further  action  by  the  Society  seems  unnecessary  at  this 
time. 

A  former  member  of  this  Society,  Mr.  Walter  G.  Davis  of  Portland, 
Maine,  visited  Topsfield  during  the  summer  in  search  of  "the  homes 
of  his  ancestors."  The  Secretary  passed  a  pleasant  morning  in  his 
company  and  a  few  days  later  received  a  check  for  twenty-five  dollars 
"for  the  Society  as  a  slight  help  to  the  remarkable  work  which  it  has 
accomplished  and  is  still  carrying  on." 

Mr.  Sheahan  continues  as  custodian  of  the  Capen  House.  The 
building  is  in  excellent  condition.  The  water  supply  has  been  im- 
proved still  further  (partly  at  the  expense  of  Mr.  Sheahan)  by  con- 
necting with  the  tank  owned  by  our  neighbor,  Mr.  Jordan. 

One  hundred  dollars  more  has  been  paid  on  account  of  the  Capen 
House  note,  reducing  the  amount  to  $1400,  and  there  is  a  comfort- 
able cash  balance  in  the  treasury  insuring  similar  action  during  the 
coming  year. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  Francis  Dow, 

Secretary. 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  TREASURER 

OF    THE 

TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  DEC.   31,    1919. 


RECEIPTS 

Jan.  1,   1919.     Balance  cash  on  hand 

Received  from  annual  dues 
Historical  Collections  sold 

bindings  sold  at  .35c. 
"     at  .40c. 
Topsfield  Town  Records,  Vol.  I.  sold 
Thornton  Stanley,  copies  sold 
Town  of  Topsfield,  appropriation  in  aid  of  print 

ing  Town  Records,  Vol.  I.  and  Vol.  II. 
Gift  from  Walter  G.  Davis 
Loan,  from  George  Francis  Dow 


PAYMENTS 


Printing,  Hist.  Colls.  Vol.  23.  (in  part), 

Binding  Hist.  Colls.  Vol.  23    . 

Printing,  Hist.  Coll.  Vol.  24 

Deprinting  and  binding,  Thornton  Stanley 

Printing,  Topsfield  Town  Records,    Vol.  I 

(pp.  1-104)  and  Vol.  II  (in  part) 
Notices  of  meetings 
Express,  Hist.  Colls. 
Engraving 
Expenses  annual  meeting 


Jan.   2,    1920.  Balance  cash  on  hand 


$23  22 

133  00 

1  00 

2  45 

45  60 

52  50 

2  40 

350  00 

25  00 

50  00 

$685  17 

$92  24 

53  60 

141  42 

20  10 

350  00 

5  22 

7  11 

45 

92 

$671  06 

$14  11 

Respectfully  submitted, 
George  Francis  Dow, 

Treasurer. 


Approved, 

W.  Pitman  Gould, 

A  uditor. 


(vii) 


TREASURER'S  REPORT  ON  THE  BUILDING  FUND 

FOR  THE  YEAH   ENDING   DEC.  31,   1919. 


RECEIPTS 

Jan,   1,   1919.    Balance  cash  on  hand 

Dividends,  United  Shoe  Mach.  Co.  stock 
Rent  of  Capen  House  (Mr.  Sheahan) 
Mr.  Sheahan,  on  account  water  supply 


PAYMENTS 

Mrs.  Ada  L.  Ward,  on  acct.  note 

"        interest  on  note 
Repairs  on  pump  and  supply 
Installation  of  additional  water  supply 
.    Repairs  on  casement  sash 
Miscellaneous  repairs 
Lock  on  Antiquarian  Room  in  Town  Hall 

Jan.  2,   1920.    Balance  cash  on  hand 


STATEMENT 

On  hand  45  shares  United  Shoe  Mach.  Co.  market 

value  49 
Less  collateral  note  at  5  per  cent 

Value  of  Fund 


Parson  .Capen  House  and  1  1-5  acre  of  land 

(cost) 
Restoration  and  furnishings 


Respectfully  submitted, 

George  Francis  Dow, 
Treasurer. 
Approved, 

W.  Pitman  Gould, 

Auditor. 


$83  78 

157  50 

120  00 

18  63 

$379  91 

$100  00 

75  00 

18  89 

52  18 

7  62 

5  77 

2  75 

$262  21 

$117  70 

rket 

$2205  00 

$1400  00 

$805  00 

$2100  00 

$2461  12 



$4561  12 

(viii) 


ESSEX  COUNTY  IN  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY  COLONY 
AS  DESCRIBED  BY  EARLY  TRAVELERS. 


COMMUNICATED  BY  GEORGE   FRANCIS  DOW. 


SAMUEL  DE  CHAMPLAIN  IN  1605. 

SAMUEL  de  Champlain,  a  native  of  France :  soldier  and  advent- 
urer and  afterwards  governor  and  the  ruling  spirit  in  New 
France,  was  the  first  to  supply  a  printed  description  of  explora- 
tions along  the  coast  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay.  He  arrived  at  the 
mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River  in  the  spring  of  1603  and  after  ex- 
ploring the  Gulf  returned  to  France  in  the  early  fall.  The  next  year 
he  came  again  reaching  Nova  Scotia  early  in  May,  1604.  That  year 
he  explored  part  of  the  Maine  coast  and  after  wintering  near  what 
is  now  Eastport,  Maine,  in  June,  1605,  he  set  sail  for  a  survey  of  the 
New  England  coast  touching  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  river  and 
at  Saco  and  then  closely  following  the  coast  line  until  he  reached 
Cape  Anne  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  July,  1605.  In  September 
1606  he  again  visited  the  Massachusetts  coast  and  spent  several  days 
in  Gloucester  harbor.  The  following  account  of  his  observations  is 
reprinted  from  The  Voyages  of  Samuel  de  Champlain,  translated  from 
the  French,  and  published  by  the  Prince  Society,  Boston,  in  1880. 
The  original  work  was  printed  in  Paris  in  1613. 

On  the  15th  of  the  month  [July,  1605]  we  made  twelve  leagues. 
Coasting  along,  we  perceived  a  smoke  on  the  shore,  which  we  ap- 
proached as  near  as  possible,  but  saw  no  savages,  which  led  us  to  be- 
lieve that  they  had  fled.  The  sun  set,  and  we  could  find  no  harbor 
for  that  night,  since  the  coast  was  flat  and  sandy.  Keeping  off,  and 
heading  south,  in  order  to  find  an  anchorage,  after  proceeding  about 
two  leagues,  we  observed  a  cape*  on  the  main  land  south  a  quarter 
southeast  of  us,  some  six  leagues  distant.  Two  leagues  to  the  east 
we  saw  three  or  four  rather  high  islands,!  and  on  the  west  a   large 

*Cape  Anne,  which  is  the  early  spelling  of  this  name. 
tThe  Isles  of  Shoals. 

(1) 


2  SAMUEL  DE  CHAMPLAIN   IN   1605. 

bay.  The  coast  of  this  bay,  reaching  as  far  as  the  cape,  extends  in- 
land from  where  we  were  perhaps  four  leagues.  It  has  a  breadth  of 
two  leagues  from  north  to  south,  and  three  at  its  entrance.  ■  Not  ob- 
serving any  place  favorable  for  putting  in,  we  resolved  to  go  to  the 
cape  above  mentioned  with  short  sail,  which  occupied  a  portion  of  the 
night.  Approaching  to  where  there  were  sixteen  fathoms  of  water, 
we  anchored  until  daybreak. 

On  the  next  day  we  went  to  the  above-mentioned  cape,  where  there 
are  three  islands  near  the  main  land,  full  of  wood  of  different  kinds, 
as  at  Chouacoet  and  all  along  the  coast ;  and  still  another  flat  one, 
where  there  are  breakers,  and  which  extends  a  little  farther  out  to 
sea  than  the  others,  on  which  there  is  no  wood  at  all.  We  named  this 
place  Island  Cape,  near  which  we  saw  a  canoe  containing  five  or  six 
savages,  who  came  out  near  our  barque,  and  then  went  back  and 
danced  on  the  beach.  Sieur  de  Monts  sent  me  on  shore  to  observe 
them,  and  to  give  each  one  of  them  a  knife  and  some  biscuit,  which 
caused  them  to  dance  again  better  than  before.  This  over,  I  made 
them  understand,  as  well  as  I  could,  that  I  desired  them  to  show  me 
the  course  of  the  shore.  After  I  had  drawn  with  a  crayon  the  bay, 
and  the  Island  Cape,  where  we  were,  with  the  same  crayon  they  drew 
the  outline  of  another  bay,  which  they  represented  as  very  large ; 
here  they  placed  six  pebbles  at  equal  distances  apart,  giving  me  to 
understand  by  this  that  these  signs  represented  as  many  chiefs  and 
tribes.  Then  they  drew  within  the  first  mentioned  bay  a  river* 
which  we  had  passed,  which  has  shoals  and  is  very  long.  We  found 
in  this  place  a  great  many  vines,  the  green  grapes  on  which  were  a 
little  larger  than  peas,  also  many  nut-trees,  the  nuts  on  which  were 
no  larger  than  musket-balls.  The  savages  told  us  that  those  inhab- 
iting this  country  cultivated  the  land  and  sowed  seeds  like  the  others, 
whom  we  had  before  seen.  The  latitude  of  this  place  is  43°  and  some 
minutes.  Sailing  half  a  league  farther,  we  observed  several  savages 
on  a  rocky  point,  who  ran  along  the  shore,  dancing  as  they  went,  to 
their  companions  to  inform  them  of  our  coming.  After  pointing  out 
to  us  the  direction  of  their  abode,  they  made  a  signal  with  smoke  to 
show  us  the  place  of  their  settlement.  We  anchored  near  a  little 
The  Merrimack  River. 


SAMUEL  DE  CHAMPLAIN  IN   1605.  3 

island,*  and  sent  our  canoe  with  knives  and  cakes  for  the  savages. 
From  the  large  number  of  those  we  saw,  we  concluded  that  these 
places  were  better  inhabited  than  the  others  we  had  seen. 

After  a  stay  of  some  two  hours  for  the  sake  of  observing  these 
people,  whose  canoes  are  made  of  birch  bark,  like  those  of  the  Can- 
adians, Souriquois,  and  Etechemins,  we  weighed  anchor  and  set  sail 
with  a  promise  of  fine  weather.  Continuing  our  course  to  the  west- 
south-west,  we  saw  numerous  islands  on  one  side  and  the  other.  Hav- 
ing sailed  seven  or  eight  leagues,  we  anchored  near  an  island,!  whence 
we  observed  many  smokes  along  the  shore,  and  many  savages  run- 
ning up  to  see  us.  Sieur  de  Monts  sent  two  or  three  men  in  a  canoe 
to  them,  to  whom  he  gave  some  knives  and  paternosters  to  present 
to  them;  with  which  they  were  greatly  pleased,  and. danced  several 
times  in  acknowledgment.  We  could  not  ascertain  the  name  of  their 
chief,  as  we  did  not  know  their  language.  All  along  the  shore  there 
is  a  great  deal  of  land  cleared  up  and  planted  with  Indian  corn.  The 
country  is  very  pleasant  and  agreeable,  and  there  is  no  lack  of  fine 
trees.  The  canoes  of  those  who  live  there  are  made  of  a  single  piece, 
and  are  very  liable  to  turn  over  if  one  is  not  skilful  in  managing  them. 
We  had  not  before  seen  any  of  this  kind.  They  are  made  in  the 
following  manner.  After  cutting  down,  at  a  cost  of  much  labor  and 
time,  the  largest  and  tallest  tree  they  can  find,  by  means  of  stone 
hatchets  (for  they  have  no  others  except  some  few  which  they  re- 
ceived from  the  savages  on  the  coasts  of  La  Cadie,  who  obtained  them 
in  exchange  for  furs),  they  remove  the  bark,  and  round  off  the  tree 
except  on  one  side,  where  they  apply  fire  gradually  along  its  entire 
length;  and  sometimes  they  put  red-hot  pebble-stones  on  top.  When 
the  fire  is  too  fierce,  they  extinguish  it  with  a  little  water,  not  entire- 
ly, but  so  that  the  edge  of  the  boat  may  not  be  burnt.  It  being  hol- 
lowed out  as  much  as  they  wish,  they  scrape  it  all  over  with  stones, 
which  they  use  instead  of  knives.  These  stones  resemble  our  mus- 
ket flints. 

******** 

[September,  1606.]     Continuing  our  course,  we  proceeded  to  the 
♦Thatcher's  Island.  tin  Boston  harbour. 


4  SAMUEL  DE  CHAMPLAIN   IN   1605. 

Island  Cape,*  where  we  encountered  rather  bad  weather  and  fogs, 
and  saw  little  prospect  of  being  able  to  spend  the  night  under  shelter, 
since  the  locality  was  not  favorable  for  this.  While  we  were  thus  in 
perplexity,  it  occurred  to  me  that,  while  coasting  along  with  Sieur 
de  Monts,  I  had  noted  on  my  map,  at  a  distance  of  a  league  from 
here,  a  place  which  seemed  suitable  for  vessels,  but  which  we  did  not 
enter,  because,  when  we  passed  it,  the  wind  was  favorable  for  con- 
tinuing on  our  course.  This  place  we  had  already  passed,  which  led 
me  to  suggest  to  Sieur  de  Poutrincourt  that  we  should  stand  in  for 
a  point  in  sight,  where  the  place  in  question  was,  which  seemed  to 
me  favorable  for  passing  the  night.  We  proceeded  to  anchor  at  the 
mouth,  and  went  in  the  next  day.f 

Sieur  de  Pontrincourt  landed  with  eight  or  ten  of  our  company. 
We  saw  some  very  fine  grapes  just  ripe,  Brazilian  peas,  pumpkins, 
squashes,  and  very  good  roots,  which  the  savages  cultivate,  having 
a  taste  similar  to  that  of  chards.  They  made  us  presents  of  some  of 
these,  in  exchange  for  little  trifles  which  we  gave  them.  They  had 
already  finished  their  harvest.  We  saw  two  hundred  savages  in  this 
very  pleasant  place ;  and  there  are  here  a  large  number  of  very  fine 
walnut  trees,  cypresses,  sassafras,  oaks,  ashes,  and  beeches.  The  chief 
of  this  place  is  named  Quiouhamenec,  who  came  to  see  us  with  a 
neighbor  of  his,  named  Gohouepech,  whom  we  entertained  sumptuous- 
ly. Onemechin,  chief  of  Chouacoet,  came  also  to  see  us,  to  whom  we 
gave  a  coat,  which  he,  however,  did  not  keep  a  long  time,  but  made 
a  present  of  it  to  another,  since  he  was  uneasy  in  it,  and  could  not 
adapt  himself  to  it.  We  saw  also  a  savage  here,  who  had  so  wound- 
ed himself  in  the  foot,  and  lost  so  much  blood,  that  he  fell  down  in  a 
swoon.  Many  others  surrounded  him,  and  sang  some  time  before 
touching  him.  Afterwards,  they  made  some  motions  with  their  feet 
and  hands,  shook  his  head  and  breathed  upon  him,  when  he  came  to 
himself.  Our  surgeon  dressed  his  wounds,  when  he  went  off.  in  good 
spirits. 

The  next  day,  as  we  were  calking  our  shallop,  Sieur  de  Poutrin- 
court in  the  woods  noticed  a  number  of  savages  who  were  going, 
with  the  intention  of  doing  us  some  mischief,  to  a  little  stream,  where 

*Cape  Anne.  fThe  harbor  of  Gloucester. 


SAMUEL  DE  CHAMPLAIN   IN   1605.  5 

a  neck  connects  with  the  mainland,  at  which  our  party  were  doing 
their  washing.  As  I  was  walking  along  this  neck,  these  savages 
noticed  me ;  and,  in  order  to  put  a  good  face  upon  it,  since  they  saw 
I  had  discovered  them  thus  seasonably,  they  began  to  shout  and 
dance,  and  then  came  towards  me  with  their  bows,  arrows,  quivers, 
and  other  arms.  And,  inasmuch  as  there  was  a  meadow  between 
them  and  myself,  I  made  a  sign  to  them  to  dance  again.  This  they 
did  in  a  circle,  putting  all  their  arms  in  the  middle.  But  they  had 
hardly  commenced,  when  they  observed  Sieur  de  Poutrincourt  in  the 
wood  with  eight  musketeers,  which  frightened  them.  Yet  they  did 
not  stop  until  they  had  finished  their  dance,  when  they  withdrew  in 
all  directions,  fearing  lest  some  unpleasant  turn  might  be  served  them. 
We  said  nothing  to  them,  however,  and  showed  them  only  demon- 
strations of  gladness.  Then  we  returned  to  launch  our  shallop,  and 
take  our  departure.  They  entreated  us  to  wait  a  day,  saying  that 
more  than  two  thousand  of  them  would  come  to  see  us.  But,  unable 
to  lose  any  time,  we  were  unwilling  to  stay  here  longer.  I  am  of  the 
opinion  that  their  object  was  to  surprise  us.  Some  of  the  land  was 
already  cleared  up,  and  they  were  constantly  making  clearings.  Their 
mode  of  doing  it  as  follows ;  after  cutting  down  the  trees  at  a  dis- 
tance of  three  feet  from  the  ground,  they  burn  the  branches  upon 
the  trunk,,  and  then  plant  their  corn  between  these  stumps,  in  course 
of  time  tearing  up  also  the  roots.  There  are  likewise  fine  meadows 
here,  capable  of  supporting  a  large  number  of  cattle.  This  harbor  is 
very  fine,  containing  water  enough  for  vessels,  and  affording  a  shelter 
from  the  weather  behind  the  islands.  It  is  in  latitude  43°,  and  we 
gave  it  the  name  of  Le  Beauport. 

The  last  day  of  September  we  set  out  from  Beauport,*  and,  pass- 
ing Cap  St.  Louis,  stood  on  our  course  all  night  for  Cap  Blanc. 

♦Gloucester. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH  IN  1614. 

CAPTAIN  John  Smith,  the  hero  of  Virginia,  visited  the  New 
England  coast  in  1614  in  search  of  whales  and  mines  of  gold 
and  in  an  open  boat  skirted  the  coast  from  the  Penobscot  to 
Cape  Cod.  After  his  return  to  England  he  published  A  Description 
of  New  England:  or  The  Observations,  and  Discoveries,  of  Captain  Iohn 
Smith  {Admiral  of  that  Country),  in  the  North  of  America,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord,  1614;  London,  1616,  a  quarto  volume  of  about  eighty 
pages,  from  which  the  following  is  reprinted.  This  is  the  earliest 
book  in  which  the  name  "New  England"  occurs. 

Angoam*  is  the  next;  This  place  might  content  a  right  curious 
judgement ;  but  there  are  many  sands  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor; 
and  the  worst  is,  it  is  inbayed  too  farre  from  the  deep  Sea.  Heere 
are  many  rising  hilles,  and  on  their  tops  and  descents  many  corne 
fields,  and  delightfull  groues.  On  the  East,  is  an  He  of  two  or  three 
leagues  in  length ;  the  one  half,  plaine  marish  grasse  fit  for  pasture, 
with  many  faire  high  groues  of  mulberrie  trees  and  gardens;  and  there 
is  also  Okes,  Pines,  and  other  woods  to  make  this  place  an  excellent 
habitation,  beeing  a  good  and  safe  harbor. 

Naimkeck\  though  it  be  more  rocke  ground  (for  Angoam  is  sandie) 
is  not  much  inferior  ;  neither  for  the  harbor,  nor  any  thing  I  could  per- 
ceiue,  but  the  multitude  of  people.  From  hence  doth  stretch  into  the 
Sea  the  faire  headland  Tragabigzanda,%  fronted  with  three  lies  called 
the  three  Turks  heads;  to  the  North  of  this,  doth  enter  a  great  Bay, 
where  wee  founde  some  habitations  and  corne  fields ;  they  report  a 
great  Riuer,  and  at  least  thirtie  habitations  doo  possesse  this  Countrie. 
But  because  the  French  had  got  their  Trade,  I  had  no  leasure  to  dis- 
couer  it.  The  lies  of  Mattahunts  are  on  the  West  side  of  this  Bay, 
where  are  many  lies,  and  questionlesse  good  harbors;  and  then  the 
Countrie  of  the  Massachusets,  which  is  the  Paradise  of  all  those  parts; 
for,  heere  are  many  lies  all  planted  with  corne ;  groues,  mulberries, 
saluage  gardens,  and  good  harbors;  the  Coast  is  for  the  most  part, 
high  clayie  sandie  cliffs.     The  Sea  Coast  as  you  passe,  shewes  you  all 

♦Ipswich.  fSalem.  JCape  Anne. 

(6) 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH   IN   1614.  7 

along  large  corne  fields,  and  great  troupes  of  well  proportioned  people ; 
but  the  French  hauing  remained  heere  neere  sixe  weekes,  left  nothing 
for  vs  to  take  occasion  to  examine  the  inhabitants  relations,  viz.  if 
there  be  neer  three  thousand  people  vpon  these  lies;  and  that  the 
Riuer  doth  pearce  many  daies  iournies  the  intralles  of  that  Countrey. 
We  found  the  people  in  those  parts  verie  kinde ;  but  in  their  furie  no 
lesse  valiant.  For,  vpon  a  quarrell  wee  had  with  one  of  them,  hee 
only  with  three  others  crossed  the  harbor  of  Quonahassit  to  certaine 
rocks  whereby  wee  must  passe ;  and  there  let  flie  their  arrowes  for 
our  shot,  till  we  were  out  of  danger. 


CHRISTOPHER  LEVETT  IN  1624. 

CHRISTOPHER  Levett  landed  on  the  Isles  of  Shoals  in  the  autumn 
of  1623.  From  there  he  went  to  the  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua 
river,  and  then  to  an  island  in  what  is  now  the  harbor  of  Port- 
land, Me.,-  where  he  established  a  settlement  and  left  ten  men  while 
he  returned  to  England  for  supplies.  While  he  did  not  actually  visit 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  yet  he  alludes  to  Cape  Anne  and  Plymouth  in 
his  printed  narrative  which  was  published  in  London  in  1628  under 
the  following  title : — A  Voyage  into  New  England,  begun  in  1623,  and 
ended  in  1624.     Performed  by  Christopher  Levett. 

Thus  have  I  related  unto  you  what  I  have  seen,  and  do  know  may 
be  had  in  those  parts  of  New  England  where  I  have  been,  yet  was  I 
never  at  the  Massachusett,  which  is  counted  the  paradise  of  New 
England,  nor  at  Cape  Ann,  but  I  fear  there  hath  been  too  fair  a  gloss 
set  on  Cape  Ann.  I  am  told  there  is  a  good  harbour  which  makes  a 
fair  invitation,  but  when  they  are  in,  their  entertainment  is  not  an- 
swerable, for  there  is  little  good  ground,  and  the  ships  which  fished 
there  this  year,  their  boats  went  twenty  miles  to  take  their  fish,  and 
yet  they  were  in  great  fear  of  making  their  voyages,  as  one  of  the 
masters  confessed  unto  me  who  was  at  my  house. 

Neither  was  I  at  New  Plymouth,  but  I  fear  that  place  is  not  so  good 
as  many  others,   for  if  it  were,   in  my  conceit,   they  would  content 


8  CHRISTOPHER  LEVETT  IN  1624. 

themselves  with  it  and  not  seek  for  any  other,  having  ten  times  so 
much  ground  as  would  serve  ten  times  so  many  people  as  they  have 
now  amongst  them.  But  it  seems  they  have  no  fish  to  make  benefit 
of,  for  this  year  they  had  one  ship  at  Pemoquid,  and  another  at  Gape 
Ann,  where  they  have  begun  a  new  plantation,  but  how  long  it  will 
continue  I  know  not. 


REV.  FRANCIS  HIGGINSON  IN  1629. 

REV.  Francis  Higginson  who  had  been  settled  at  Claybrooke  Par- 
ish, Leicester  co.,  England,  was  engaged  by  "the  Governour 
and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  in  New  England"  to 
join  the  emigration  under  Endecott  at  Salem.  He  left  England  in 
the  spring  of  1629,  and  not  long  after  his  arrival  was  ordained  as 
teacher  of  the  church.  The  exposure  and  privations  of  the  following 
winter  proved  too  severe  and  he  died  of  consumption  Aug.  6,  1630. 
The  manuscript  of  his  book  "New-Englands  Plantation," undoubtedly 
was  sent  to  England  by  one  of  the  returning  vessels  for  it  reached 
London  before  Nov.  20,  1629  and  was  shortly  printed.  It  had  been 
written  for  "the  satisfaction  of  loving  friends"  and  doubtless  played 
its  part  in  influencing  the  larger  emigration  of  1630  and  the  years 
that  followed.     Three  editions  were  printed,  all  in  1630. 

The  following  discriptive  extracts  are  taken  from  an  early  manu- 
script in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  describing  the  voyage 
and  from  the  first  edition  of  his  book  published  under  the  following 
title :  New-Englands  Plantation,  or,  A  short  and  trve  Description  of  the 
Commodities  and  Discommodities  of  that  Countrey.  Written  by  a  reu- 
erend  Diuine  noiv  there  resident.  London,  1630. 

By  noon  we  were  within  3  leagues  of  Capan,  and  as  we  sayled 
along  the  coasts  we  saw  every  hill  and  dale  and  every  island  full  of 
gay  woods  and  high  trees.  The  nearer  we  came  to  the  shoare  the 
more  flowers  in  abundance,  sometymes  scattered  abroad,  sometymes 
joyned  in  sheets  9  or  10  yards  long,  which  we  supposed  to  be  brought 
from  the  low  meadowes  by  the  tyde.  Now  what  with  fine  woods 
and  greene  trees  by  land,  and  these  yellow  flowers  paynting  the  sea, 


REV.   FRANCIS  HIGGINSON   IN    1629.  9 

made  us  all  desirous  to  see  our  new  paradise  of  New  England,  whence 
we  saw  such  forerunning  signals  of  fertilitie  afarre  off.  Coming 
neare  the  harbour  towards  night  we  takt  about  for  sea-roome. 

[June  27,  1629]  Saturday  a  foggie  morning;  but  after  8  o'clocke 
in  the  morning  very  cleare,  the  wind  being  somewhat  contrary  at  So. 
and  by  West,  we  tackt  to  and  againe  with  getting  little ;  but  with 
much  adoe,  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoone  having  with  much  payne 
compassed  the  harbour,  and  being  ready  to  enter  the  same,  see  how 
things  may  suddenly  change!  there  came  a  fearful  gust  of  wind  and 
rayne  and  thunder  and  lightning,  whereby  we  were  borne  with  no 
little. terrour  and  trouble  to  our  mariners,  having  very  much  adoe  to 
loose  downe  the  sayles  when  the  fury  of  the  storm  held  up.  But 
God  be  praised  it  lasted  but  a  while  and  soone  abated  agayne.  And 
hereby  the  Lord  shewed  us  what  he  could  have  done  with  us,  if  it 
had  pleased  him.  But  blessed  be  God,  he  soone  removed  this  storme 
and  it  was  a  fayre  and  sweet  evening. 

We  had  a  westerly  wind  which  brought  us  between  5  and  6  o'clock 
to  a  fyne  and  sweet  harbour,*  7  miles  from  the  head  point  of  Capan. 
This  harbour  20  ships  may  easily  ryde  therein,  where  there  was  an 
island  whither  four  of  our  men  with  a  boate  went,  and  brought  backe 
agayne  ripe  strawberries  and  gooseberries,  and  sweet  single  roses. 
Thus  God  was  merciful  to  us  in  giving  us  a  tast  and  smell  of  the 
sweet  fruit  as  an  earnest  of  his  bountiful  goodnes  to  welcome  us  at' 
our  first  arrivall.  This  harbour  was  two  leagues  and  something 
more  from  the  harbour  at  Naimkecke,f  where  our  ships  were  to  rest, 
and  the  plantation  is  already  begun.  But  because  the  passage  is 
difficult  and  night  drew  on,  we  put  into  Capan  harbour. 

[June  28]  The  Sabbath,  being  the  first  we  kept  in  America,  and 
the  7th  Lord's  day  after  we  parted  with  England. 

[June  29]  Monday  we  came  from  Capan,  to  go  to  Naimkecke,  the 
wind  northerly.  I  should  have  toukl  you  before  that  the  planters 
spying  our  English  colours  the  Governour^  sent  a  shalop  with  2  men 
on  Saturday  to  pilot  us.  These  rested  the  Sabbath  with  us  at  Capan ; 
and  this  day,  by  God's  blessing   and  their  directions,  we  passed  the 

♦Gloucester  harbor.  fThe  Indian  name  for  the  settlement  at  Salem. 

^Governor  John  Endecott. 


10  REV.   FRANCIS  HIGGINSON  IN   1629. 

curious  and  difficult  entrance  into  the  large  and  spacious  harbour  of 
Naimkecke.  And  as  we  passed  along  it  was  wonderful  to  behould 
so  many  islands  replenished  with  thicke  wood  and  high  trees,  and 
many  fayre  greene  pastures.  And  being  come  into  the  harbour  we 
saw  the  George*  to  our  great  comfort  then  being  on  Tuesday  which 
was  7  daies  before  us.  We  rested  that  night  with  glad  and  thankful 
hearts  that  God  had  put  an  end  to  our  long  and  tedious  journey 
through  the  greatest  sea  in  the  worlds. 

[June  30]  The  next  morning  the  governour  came  aboard  to  our 
ship,  and  bade  us  kindly  welcome,  and  invited  me  and  my  wiffe  to 
come  on  shoare,  and  take  our  lodging  in  his  house,  which  we  did 
accordingly. 

First  therefore  of  the  Earth  of  New  England  and  all  the  appurte- 
nances thereof:  It  is  a  land  of  diuers  and  sundry  sorts  all  about 
Masathusets  Bay,  and  at  Charles  Riuer  is  as  fat  blacke  Earth  as  can 
be  seene  any  where :  and  in  other  places  you  haue  a  clay  soyle,  in 
other  grauell,  in  other  sandy,  as  it  is  all  about  our  Plantation  at 
Salem,  for  so  our  towne  is  now  named,  Psal.  76.  2. 

The  form  of  the  Earth  here  in  the  superficies  of  it  is  neither  too 
flat  in  the  plainnesse,  nor  too  high  in  Hils,  but  partakes  of  both  in 
mediocritic,  and  fit  for  Pasture,  or  for  Plow  or  Meddow  Ground,  -as 
men  please  to  employ  it :  though  all  the  Countrey  be  as  it  were  a 
thicke  Wood  for  the  generall,  yet  in  diuers  places  there  is  much 
ground  cleared  by  the  Indians,  and  especially  about  the  plantation  : 
and  I  am  told  that  about  three  miles  from  vs  a  man  may  stand  on  a 
little  hilly  place  and  see  divers  thousands  of  acres  of  ground  as  good 
as  need  to  be,  and  not  a  Tree  in  the  same.  It  is  thought  here  is 
good  Clay  to  make  Bricke  and  Tyles  and  Earthen  Pots  as  needs  to 
be.  At  this  instant  we  are  setting  a  Bricke-kill  on  worke  to  make 
Brickes  and  Tyles  for  the  building  of  our  Houses.  For  Stone,  here 
is  plentie  of  Slates  at  the  He  of  Slate  in  Masathulets  Bay,  and  Lime- 
stone, Free-stone,  and  Smooth-stone,  and  Iron-stone,  and  Marble-stone 
also  in  such  store,  that  we  have  great  Rockes  of  it,  and  a  Harbour 
hard  by.     Our  Plantation  is  from  thence  called  Marble-harbour. 

*The  ship  "George",  300  tons,  20  guns,  had  sailed  early  in  April. 


REV.   FRANCIS  HIGGINSON   IN   1629.  11 

Of  Minerals  there  hath  yet  beene  but  little  triall  made,  yet  we  are 
not  without  great  hope  of  being  furnished  in  that  Soyle. 

The  fertilitie  of  the  Soyle  is  to  be  admired  at,  as  appeareth  in  the 
aboundance  of  Grasse  that  groweth  euerie  where  both  verie  thicke, 
verie  long,  and  verie  high  in  diuers  places :  but  it  groweth  very  wild- 
ly with  a  great  stalke  and  a  broad  and  ranker  blade,  because  it  neuer 
had  been  eaten  with  Cattle,  nor  mowed  with  a  sythe,  and  seldom 
trampled  on  by  foot.  It  is  scarce  to  be  believed  how  our  Kine  and 
Goats,  Horses  and  Hogges  doe  thriue  and  prosper  here  and  like  well 
of  this  Countrey. 

In  our  Plantation  we  have  already  a  quart  of  milke  f or  a  penny: 
but  the  aboundant  increase  of  corne  proues  this  Countrey  to  be  a 
wonderment.  Thirtie,  fortie,  fiftie,  sixtie  are  ordinarie  here:  yea 
Josephs  increase  in  Egypt  is  out-stript  here  with  vs.  our  Planters  hope 
to  haue  more  then  a  hundred  fould  this  yere :  and  all  this  while  I  am 
within  compasse ;  what  will  you  say  of  two  hundred  fould  and  vpwards? 
It  is  almost  incredible  what  great  gain  some  of  our  English  Planters 
haue  had  by  our  Indian  Corne.  Credible  persons  haue  assured  me,  and 
the  partie  himselfe  auouching  the  truth  of  it  to  me,  that  of  the  setting 
of  13  Gallons  of  Corne  he  hath  had  encrease  of  it  52  Hogsheads, 
euerie  Hogshead  holding  seuen  Bushels  of  London  measure,  and  euerie 
Bushell  was  by  him  sold  and  trusted  to  the  Indians  for  so  much 
Beauer  as  was  worth  18  shillings ;  and  so  of  this  13  Gallons  of  Corne 
which  was  worth  6  shillings  8  pence,  he  made  about  327  pounds  of 
it  the  yeere  following,  as  by  reckoning  will  appeare  :  where  you  may 
see  how  God  blesseth  husbandry  in  this  land.  There  is  not  such  great 
and  beautifull  eares  of  Corne  I  suppose  any  where  else  to  be  found 
but  in  this  Countrey  :  being  also  of  varietie  of  colours,  as  red,  blew 
and  yellow,  &c.  and  of  one  Corne  there  springeth  four  or  flue  hun- 
dred. I  haue  sent  you  many  Eares  of  diuers  colours  that  you  might 
see  the  truth  of  it. 

Little  Children  here  by  setting  of  Corne  may  earne  much  more 
then  their  owne  maintenance. 

They  haue  tryed  our  English  Corne  at  new  Plimouth  plantation,  so 
that  all  our  seuerall  Graines  will  grow  here  verie  well,  and  haue  a 
fitting  Soyle  for  their  nature. 


12  REV.   FRANCIS  HIGGINSON   IN   1629. 

Our  Gouernor  hath  store  of  greene  Pease  growing  in  his  Garden 
as  good  as  euer  I  eat  in  England.  .  .  . 

Excellent  Vines  are  here  vp  and  doune  in  the  woods.  Our  Gouer- 
nour  hath  already  planted  a  Vineyard  with  great  hope  of  increase.  ' 

When  we  came  first  to  Nehum  kekt  we  found  about  halfe  a  score 
Houses,  and  a  faire  House  newly  built  for  the  Gouernor,  we  found 
also  aboundance  of  Corne  planted  by  them,  very  good  and  well  like- 
ing.  And  we  brought  with  vs  about  two  hundred  Passengers  and 
Planters  more,  which  by  common  consent  of  the  old  Planters  were 
all  combined  together  into  one  Body  Politicke,  vnder  the  same  Gouer- 
nor. 

There  are  in  all  of  vs  both  old  and  new  Planters  about  three  hun- 
dred, whereof  two  hundred  of  them  are  setled  at  Nehum  kek,  now 
called  Salem:  and  the  rest  haue  Planted  themselues  at  Masathulets 
Bay,  beginning  to  build  a  Towne  there  which  wee  doe  call  Che)  ton, 
or  Charles  Towne. 

We  that  are  setled  at  Salem  make  what  hast  we  can  to  build 
Houses,  so  that  within  a  short  time  we  shall  haue  a  faire  Towne. 

We  haue  great  Ordnance,  wherewith  we  doubt  not  but  wee  shall 
fortifie  our  selues  in  a  short  time  to  keepe  out  a  potent  Aduersarie. 
But  that  which  is  our  greatest  comfort,  and  meanes  of  defence  aboue 
all  other,  is,  that  we  haue  here  the  true  Religion  and  holy  Ordinances 
of  Almightie  God  taught  amongst  vs :  Thankes  be  to  God,  we  haue 
here  plenty  of  Preaching,  and  diligent  Catechizing,  with  strickt  and 
carefull  exercise,  and  good  and  commendable  orders  to  bring  our 
People  into  a  Christian  conuersation  with  whom  wee  haue  to  doe 
withall.  And  thus  wee  doubt  not  but  God  will  be  with  vs,  and  if 
God  beivith  us,  who  can  be  against  us? 


GOVERNOR  THOMAS  DUDLEY  IN  1631. 

GOVERNOR  Dudley  was  one  of  the  five  undertakers  of  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  and  came  over  with  the  Win- 
throp  emigration  in  1630.  He  previously  had  been  steward 
for  nine  or  ten  years  in  the  household  of  the  Countess  of  Lincoln.  His 
"Letter  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln,"  here  abstracted,  was  written  in 
March,  1631  and  first  printed  in  1696  with  other  papers  in  a  book 
entitled : — Massachusetts:  or,  The  First  Planters  of  New  England.  The 
End  and Manner  of 'their  Coming  thither,  and  Abode  there,  Boston,  1696. 

Vppon  the  river  of  Mistick  is  seated  Saggamore  John,  and  vppon 
the  river  of  Sawgus  Sagamore  James  his  brother,  both  soe  named  by 
'the  English.  The  elder  brother  John  is  an  handsome  young  [one 
line  missing]  conversant  with  us  affecting  English  apparell  and  howses 
and  speaking  well  of  our  God.  His  brother  James  is  of  a  farr  worse 
disposition,  yet  repaireth  often  to  us.  Both  theis  brothers  command 
not  above  30  or  40  men  for  aught  I  can  learne.  Neer  to  Salem  dwell- 
eth  two  or  three  families,  subiect  to  the  Saggamore  of  Agawam  whose 
name  hee  tould  mee,  but  I  have  forgotten  it.  This  Sagamore  hath 
but  few  subjects,  and  them  and  himselfe  tributary  to  Sagamore  James, 
haveing  beene  before  the  last  yeare  (in  James  his  minority)  tributary 
to  Chicka  Talbott.  Vppon  the  river  Merrimack  is  seated  Sagamore 
Passaconaway  haveing  under  his  command  4  or  500  men,  being  es- 
teemed by  his  countrymen  a  false  fellow,  and  by  us  a  wich. 

(13) 


WILLIAM  WOOD  IN  1633. 

THE  "New  Englands  Prospect"  by  William  Wood,  is  the  earliest 
topographical  account  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony,  so 
far  as  the  settlements  then  extended.  It  also  has  a  full  de- 
scription of  its  fauna  and  flora,  and  of  the  natives.  He  arrived  in  the 
Colony  in  1629  and  remained  here  four  years  residing  at  Lynn.  He 
may  have  come  a  second  time  in  1635  and  represented  Lynn  in  the 
General  Court  in  1637,  the  next  year  removing  to  Sandwich  where  he 
is  said  to  have  died  in  1639.  His  book  was  entered  in  the  Stationer's 
Register,  "7  Julii,  1634,"  and  was  published  under  the  following  title  : 
New  Englands  Prospect.  A  true,  lively,  and  experimental!  description  of 
that  part  of  America,  commonly  called  New  England  .  .  .  By  William 
Wood,  London,  1634. 

The  next  plantation  is  Saugus,  sixe  miles  North-east  from  Winnesi- 
met :  This  Towne  is  pleasant  for  situation,  seated  at  the  bottome  of 
a  Bay,  which  is  made  on  the  one  side  with  surrounding  shore,  and  on 
the  other  side  with  a  long  sandy  Beach.  This  sandy  Beach  is  two 
miles  long  at  the  end,  whereon  is  a  necke  of  land  called  Nahant :  It 
is  six  miles  in  circumference;  well  woodded  with  Oakes,  Pines,  and 
Cedars :  It  is  beside  well  watered,  having  beside  the  fresh  Springs, 
a  great  Pond  in  the  middle ;  before  which  is  a  spacious  Marsh.  In 
this  necke  is. store  of  good  ground,  fit  for  the  plow;  but  for  the  pres- 
ent it  is  onely  used  for  to  put  young  Cattle  in,  and  weather-goates, 
and  Swine,  to  secure  them  from  the  Woolues :  a  few  posts  and  rayles 
from  the  low  water-markes  to  the  shore,  keeping  out  thee  Woolves, 
and  keepes  in  the  Cattle.  One  Blacke  William,  an  Indian  Duke,  out 
of  his  generosity  gave  this  place  in  generall  to  this  plantation  of  Sau- 
gus, so  that  no  other  can  appropriate  it  to  himselfe. 

Upon  the  South-side  of  the  sandy  Beach  the  Sea  beateth,  which  is 
a  true  prognostication,  to  presage  stormes  and  foule  weather,  and 
the  breaking  up  of  the  Frost :  For  when  a  storme  hath  beene,  or  is 
likely  to  be,  it  will  roare  like  Thunder,  being  heard  sixe  miles;  and 
after  stormes  casts  up  great  store  of  great  Clammes,  which  the  Indians 

(14) 


WILLIAM  WOOD   IN   1633.  15 

taking  out  of  their  shels,  carry  home  in  baskets.  On  the  North-side 
of  this  Bay  is  two  great  Marshes,  which  are  made  two  by  a  pleasant 
River  which  runnes  betweene  them.  Northward  up  this  River,  goes 
great  store  of  Alewives,  of  which  they  make  good  Red  Herrings;  in 
so  much  that  they  have  beene  at  charges  to  make  a  wayre,  and  a 
Herringhouse,  to  dry  these  Herrings  in ;  the  last  yeare  were  dryed 
some  4  or  5  Last  for  an  experiment,  which  proved  very  good  ;  this  is 
like  to  prove  a  great  inrichment  to  the  land,  (being  a  staple  comrno- 
ditie  in  other  Countries)  for  there  be  such  innumerable  companies  in 
every  river,  that  I  have  seene  ten  thousand  taken  in  two  houres  by 
two  men,  without  any  weire  at  all,  saving  a  few  stones  to  stop  their 
passage  up  the  river.  There  likewise  come  store  of  Basse,  which  the 
Indians  and  English  catch  with  hooke  and  line,  some  fifty  or  three- 
score at  a  tide.  At  the  mouth  of  this  river  runnes  up  a  great  c'reeke 
into  that  great  Marsh,  which,  is  called  Rumny  Marsh,  which  is  4  miles 
long,  and  2  miles  broad  ;  halfe  of  it  being  Marsh  ground  and  halfe 
upland  grasse,  without  tree  or  bush  :  this  Marsh  is  crossed  with  divers 
creekes,  wherein  lye  great  store  of  Geese,  and  Duckes.  There  be 
convenient  ponds  for  the  planting  of  Duckcoyes.  Here  is  likewise 
belonging  to  this  place  divers  fresh  meddowes,  which  afforded  good 
grasse  and  foure  spacious  ponds  like  little  lakes,  wherein  is  store  of 
fresh  fish :  within  a  mile  of  the  town,  out  of  which  runnes  a  curious 
fresh  brooke  that  is  seldome  frozen  by  reason  of  the  warmenesse  of 
the  water;  upon  this  streame  is  built  a  water  Milne,  and  up  this  river 
comes  Smelts  and  frost  fish  much  bigger  than  a  Gudgion.  For  wood 
there  is  no  want,  there  being  store  of  good  Oakes,  Wallnut,  Caedar, 
Aspe,  Elme;  The  ground  is  very  good,  in  many  places  without  trees, 
fit  for  the  plough.  In  this  plantation  is  more  English  tillage,  than  in 
all  new  England,  and  Virginia  besides;  which  proved  as  well  as  could 
bee  expected,  the  corrie  being  very  good  especially  the  Barly,  Rye, 
and  Oates. 

The  land  affordeth  the  inhabitants  as  many  rarities  as  any  place 
else,  and  the  sea  more:  the  Basse  continuing  from  the  middle  of 
Aprill  to  Michelmas,  which  stayes  not  above  half  that  time  in  the 
Bay :  besides  here  is  a  great  deale  of  Rock-cod  and  Macrill,  insomuch 
that  shoales  of  Basse  have  driven  up  shoales  of  Macrill  from  one  end 


16  WILLIAM  WOOD   IN   1633. 

of  the  sandie  Beach  to  the  other,  which  the  inhabitants  have  gathered 
up  in  wheelbarrows.  The  Bay  that  lyeth  before  the  Town  at  a  low 
Spring-tyde,  will  be  all  flatts  for  two  miles  together,  upon  which  is 
great  store  of  Muscle-banckes,  and  Clam-bancks,  and  Lobsters  amongst 
the  rockes  and  grassie  holes.  These  flatts  make  it  unnavigable 
for  shippes,  yet  at  high  water  great  Boates,  Loiters,  and  Pinnaces 
of  20,  and  30  tun,  may  saile  up  to  the  plantation,  but  they  neede  have 
a  skilful  Pilote,  because  of  many  dangerous  rockes  and  foaming 
breakers,  that  lye  at  the  mouth  of  that  Bay.  The  very  aspect  of  the 
place  is  fortification  enough  to  keepe  off  an  unknowne  enemie. 
yet  may  it  be  fortified  at  a  little  charge,  being  but  few  landing  places 
there  about,  and  those  obscure. 

Foure  miles  Northeast  from  Saugus  lyeth  Salem,  which  stands  on 
the  middle  of  a  necke  of  land  very  pleasantly,  having  a  South  river 
on  the  one  side,  and  a  North  river  on  the  other  side :  upon  this  necke 
where  the  most  of  the  houses  stand  is  very  bad  and  Sandie  ground, 
yet  for  seaven  yeares  together  it  hath  brought  forth  exceeding  good 
corne,  by  being  fished*  but  every  third  yeare ;  in  some  places  is  very 
good  ground,  and  very  good  timber  and  divers  springs  hard  by  the 
sea  side.  Here  likewise  is  store  of  fish,  as  Basses,  Eeles,  Lobsters, 
Clammes,  &c. 

Although  their  land  be  none  of  the  best,  yet  beyond  those  rivers 
is  a  very  good  soyle,  where  they  have  taken  farmes,  and  get  their 
Hay,  and  plant  their  corne;  there  they  crosse  these  rivers  with  small 
Cannowes,  which  are  made  of  whole  pine  trees,  being  about  two  foot 
&  a  half  over,  and  20  foote  long  :  in  these  likewise  they  goe  a  fowling, 
sometimes  two  leagues  to  Sea ;  there  be  more  Cannowes  in  this  towne 
than  in  all  the  whole  Patent ;  every  household  having  a  water-house 
or  two. 

This  Towne  wants  an  Alewife  river,  which  is  a  great  convenience ; 
it  hath  two  good  harbours,  the  one  being  called  Winter,  and  the  other 
Summer  harbour,  which  lyeth  within  Derbies  Fort,  which  place  if  it 
were  well  fortified,  might  keepe  shippes  from  landing  of  forces  in 
any  of  those  two  places.  Marvi.ll  Head  is  a  place  which  lyeth  4  miles 
full  South  from  Salem,  and  is  a  very  convenient  place  for  a  plantation, 

♦Fertilized  with  fish. 


WILLIAM  WOOD  IN   1633.  17 

especially  for  such  as  will  set  upon  the  trade  of  fishing.  There  was 
made  here  a  ships  loading  of  fish  the  last  yeare,  where  still  stands 
the  stages,  and  drying  scaffolds ;  here  be  good  harbour  for  boates, 
and  safe  riding  for  shippes.  Agowamme*  is  nine  miles  to  the  North 
from  Salem,  which  is  one  of  the  most  spatious  places  for  a  plantation, 
being  neare  the  sea,  it  aboundeth  with  fish,  and  flesh  of  fowles  and 
beasts,  great  Meads  and  Marshes  and  plaine  plowing  grounds,  many 
good  rivers  and  harbours  and  no  rattle  snakes.  In  a  word,  it  is  the 
best  place  but  one,  which  is  Merrimacke,  lying  8  miles  beyond  it, 
where  is  a  river  20  leaugues  navigable,  all  along  the  river  side  is  fresh 
Marshes,  in  some  places  3  miles  broad. 

In  this  river  is  Sturgeon,  Sammon,  and  Basse,  and  divers  other 
kinds  of  fish.  To  conclude,  the  Countrie  hath  not  that  which  this 
place  cannot  yeeld.  So  that  these  two  places  may  containe  twice  as 
many  people  as  are  yet  in  New  England :  there  being  as  yet  scarce 
any  inhabitants  in  these  two  spacious  places.  Three  miles  beyond 
the  river  Merrimacke  is  the  outside  of  our  Patent  for  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay.  These  be  all  the  Townes  that  were  begun,  when  I  came 
for  England,  which  was  the  15  of  August  1633. 

♦Settled  in  1633  as  the  town  of  Ipswich. 


i. 


THOMAS  LECHFORD  IN  1641. 

THOMAS  Lechford  was  a  lawyer  who  came  over  in  1638.  But 
lawyers  were  not  wanted  in  the  Colony  and  he  could  barely 
earn  a  living  for  his  family,  so  in  August,  1641,  he  returned 
to  England  and  wrote  his  book  which  he  published  the  following 
year.  It  is  full  of  information  relating  to  the  manners  and  customs 
in  the  Colony,  and  was  published  under  the  following  title  :  Plain 
Dealing :  or,  Nevves  for  New-England.  ...  By  Thomas  Lechford  of 
Clements  Inne,  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  Cent.  London,  1642. 

The  publique  worship  is  in  as  faire  a  meeting  house  as  they  can  pro- 
vide, wherein,  in  most  places,  they  have  beene  at  great  charges. 
Every  Sabbath  or  Lords  day,  they  come  together  at  Boston,  by  wring- 
ing of  a  bell,  about  nine  of  the  clock  or  before.  The  Pastor  begins 
with  solemn  prayer  continuing  about  a  quarter  of  an  houre.  The 
Teacher  then  readeth  and  expoundeth  a  Chapter;  Then  a  Psalme  is 
sung,  which  ever  one  of  the  ruling  Elders  dictates.  After  that  the 
Pastor  preacheth  a  Sermon,  and  sometimes  ex  tempore  exhorts.  Then 
the  Teacher  concludes  with  prayer  and  a  blessing.  .  .  .  About  two 
in  the  after-noone,  they  repaire  to  the  meeting-house  againe :  and 
then  the  Pastor  begins,  as  before  noone,  and  a  Psalme  being  sung, 
the  Teacher  makes  a  Sermon.  He  was  wont,  when  I  came  first,  to 
reade  and  expound  a  Chapter  also  before  his  Sermon  in  the  afternoon. 
After  and  before  his  Sermon,  he  prayeth. 

After  that  ensues  Baptisme,  if  there  be  any,  .  .  .  Which  ended, 
follows  the  contribution,  one  of  the  Deacons  saying,  Brethren  of  the 
congregation,  now  there  is  time  left  for  contribution,  where  fore  as 
God  hath  prospered  you,  so  freely  offer.  Upon  some  extraordinary 
occasions,  as  building  and  repairing  of  Churches  or  meeting-houses, 
or  other  necessities,  the  Ministers  presse  a  liberall  contribution  with 
effectuall  exhortations  out  of  Scripture.  The  magistrates  and  chiefe 
Gentlemen  first,  and  then  the  Elders,  and  all  the  congregation  of  men, 
and  most  of  them  that  are  not  of  the  Church,  all  single  persons,  widows, 
and  women  in  absence  of  their  husbands,  come  up  one  after  another 

(18) 


THOMAS  LECHFORD   IN    1641.  19 

one  way,  and  bring  their  offerings  to  the  Deacon  at  his  seate,  and 
put  it  into  a  box  of  wood  for  the  purpose,  if  it  bee  money  or  papers ; 
if  it  be  any  other  chattle,  they  set  it  or  lay  it  downe  before  the  Dea- 
cons, and  so  passe  another  way  to  theire  seats  againe.  This  contri- 
bution is  of  money,  or  papers,  promising  so  much  money :  I  have 
seene  a  faire  gilt  cup  with  a  cover,  offered  there  by  one,  which  is  still 
used  at  the  Communion.  ... 

But  in  Salem  Church,  those  onely  that  are  of  the  Church,  offer  in 
publique ;  the  rest  are  required  to  give  to  the  Ministerie,  by  collection, 
at  their  houses.  At  some  other  places  they  make  a  rate  upon  every 
man,  as  well  within,  as  not  of  the  Church,  residing  with  them,  to- 
wards the  Churches  occasions  ;  .  .  . 

These  are  the  Ministers  of  the  Bay.  .  .  .  At  Lynne,  master  Whiting 
Pastor,  master  Cobbet  Teacher :  At  Salem,  master  Peter  Pastor,  mas- 
ter Norris  Teacher,  and  his  Sonne  a  Schoole-master  :  At  Ipswich, 
master  Rogers  Pastor,  master  Norton  Teacher,  and  master  Nathaniel 
Ward,  and  his  sonne,  and  one  Master  Knight,  out  of  employment: 
At  Rowley,  Master  Ezek.  Rogers  Pastor,  Master  Miller :  At  Newberry, 
Master  Noyse  Pastor,  Master  Parker  Teacher :  He  is  sonne  of  Master 
Robert  Parker,  sometime  of  Wilton,  in  the  County  of  Wiltes,  deceased, 
who  in  his  life  time  writ  that  mis-learned  and  mistaken  Book  De  Pol- 
iteia  Eccleseastica.  .  .  . 

The  Lady  Moody  lives  at  Lynne,  but  is  of  Salem  Church,  shee  is 
(good  Lady)  almost  undone  by  buying  master  Humphries  farme, 
Swampscot,  which  cost  her  nine,  or  eleven  hundred  pounds.     .  .  . 

...  A  Church  as  gathered  for  that  Island  [Long  Island,  N.  Y.] 
at  Lynne,  in  the  Bay,  whence  some,  by  reason  of  straitnesse,  did  re- 
move to  the  said  Island ;  and  one  master  Simonds,  heretofore  a  servant 
unto  a  good  gentlewoman  whom  I  know,  was  one  of  the  first  Founders. 
Master  Peter  of  Salem  was  at  the  gathering,  and  told  me  the  said 
master  Henry  Simonds  made  a  very  cleare  confession.  .  .  . 

And  at  Cape  Anne,  where  fishing  is  set  forward,  and  some  stages 
builded,  there  one  master  Rashley  is  Chaplain :  for  it  is  farre  off  from 
any  Church  :  Rashley  is  admitted  of  Boston  Church,  but  the  place  ly- 
eth  next  Salem,  and  not  very  far  further  from  Ipswich. 


EDWARD  JOHNSON  IN  I65& 

EDWARD  Johnson  was  the  town  clerk  of  Woburn  where  he  died 
in  1672  aged  73  years.  His  book  describes  what  took  place  in 
the  Colony  under  his  observation  and  undoubtedly  he  had  visit- 
ed the  various  towns  of  which  he  gives  an  account.  The  book  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  written  a  year  or  two  before  1652  and  the  London 
publisher  may  have  supplied  its  title  page :  The  Wonder- Working 
Providence  of  Sion's  Saviour  in  New  England:  A  History  of  New 
England  from  the  English  Planting  in  1628,  until  the  yeere  1652.  .  .  . 
London,  1654. 

Of  the  Sixth  Church  of  Christ,  gathered  at  Linn,  1631. 

The  Sixth  Church  of  Christ  was  gathered  at  Linn,  betweene  Salem 
and  Charles  Towne,  her  scituation  is  neere  to  a  River,  whose  strong 
freshet  at  breaking  up  of  Winter  filleth  all  her  Bankes„  and  with  a 
furious  Torrent  ventes  it  selfe  into  the  Sea ;  This  Towne  is  furnished 
with  Mineralls  of  divers  kinds,  especially  Iron  and  Lead,  the  forme  of 
it  is  almost  square,  onely  it  takes  two  large  a  run  into  the  Land-Ward 
(as  most  Townes  do),  it  is  filled  with  about  one  hundred  Houses  for 
dwelling ;  Here  is  also  an  Iron  Mill  in  constant  use,  but  as  for  Lead 
they  have  tried  but  little  yet.  Their  meeting-house  being  on  a  levell 
Land  undefended  from  the  cold  North  west-wind  ;  And  therefore  made 
with  steps  descending  into  the  Earth,  their  streetes  are  straite  and 
comly,  yet  but  thin  of  Houses,  the  people  mostly  inclining  to  Husband- 
ry, have  built  many  Farmes  Remote  there,  Cattell  exceedingly  multi- 
plied, Goates  which  were  in  great  esteeme  at  their  first  comming, 
are  now  almost  quite  banished,  and  now  Horses,  Kine  and  Sheep  are 
most  in  request  with  them,  the  first  feeder  of  this  flock  of  Christ  was 
Mr.  Stephen  Batchelor,  gray  and  aged. 

Of  the  Ninth  Church  of  Christ,  gathered  at  Ipswich. 

This  year  came  over  a  farther  supply  of  Eminent  instruments  for 
furthering  this  admirable  Worke  of  his,  amongst  whom  the  Reverend 

(20) 


EDWARD  JOHNSON   IN    1652.  21 

and  judicious  servant  of  Christ  Mr.  Nathaniel  Ward,  who  tooke  up 
his  station  at  the  Towne  of  Ipswich,  where  the  faithfull  servants  of 
Christ  gathered  the  Ninth  Church  of  his.  This  Towne  is  scituated  on 
a  faire  and  delightfull  River,  whose  first  rise  or  spring  begins  about 
five  and  twenty  Miles  farther  up  in  the  Countrey,  issuing  forth  a  very 
pleasant  pond.  But  soone  after  it  betakes  its  course  through  a  most 
hideous  swamp  of  large  extent,  even  for  many  Miles,  being  a  great 
Harbour  for  Beares ;  after  its  comming  forth  this  place,  it  groweth 
larger  by  the  income  of  many  small  Rivers,  and  issues  forth  in  the  Sea, 
due  East  over  against  the  Island  of  Slioles,  a  great  place  for  fishing  for 
our  English  Nation.  The  peopling  of  this  Towne  is  by  men  of  good 
ranke  and  quality,  many  of  them  having  the  yearly  Revenue  of  large 
Lands  in  England  before  they  came  to  this  Wildernesse,  but  their 
Estates  being  imployed  for  Christ,  and  left  in  banke,  as  you  have 
formerly  heard,  they  are  well  content  till  Christ  shall  be  pleased  to 
restore  it  againe  to  them  or  theirs,  which  in  all  reason  should  be  out 
of  the  Prelates  Lands  in  England.  Let  all  those,  whom  it  concernes 
(to  judge)  consider  it  well,  and  do  Justice  herein. 

This  Towne  lies  in  the  Saggamooreship,  or  Earldome  of  Aggaivam, 
now  by  our  English  Nation  called  Essex.  It  is  a  very  good  Haven 
Towne,  yet  a  little  barr'd  up  at  the  Mouth  of  the  River,  some  Mar- 
chants  here  are,  (but  Boston,  being  the  chiefest  place  of  resort  of 
Shipping,  carries  away  all  the  Trade)  they  have  very  good  Land  for 
Husbandry,  where  Rocks  hinder  not  the  course  of  the  Plow ;  the  Lord 
hath  been  pleased  to  increase  them  in  Come  and  Cattell  of  late ; 
Insomuch  that  they  have  many  hundred  quarters  to  spare  yearly,  and 
feed,  at  the  latter  end  of  Summer,  the  Towne  of  Boston  with  good 
Beefe;  their  Houses  are  many  of  them  very  faire  built  with  pleasant 
Gardens  and  Orchards,  consisting  of  about  one  hundred  and  forty 
Families.  Their  meeting-house  is  a  very  good  prospect  to  a  great 
part  of  the  Towne,  and  beautifully  built.  The  Church  of  Christ  here 
consists  of  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  soules,  being  exact  in  their 
conversation,  and  free  from  the  Epidemicall  Disease  of  all  Reforming 
Churches,  which  under  Christ  is  procured  by  their  pious  Learned  and 
Orthodox  Ministery,  as  in  due  place  (God  willing)  shall  be  declared, 
in  the  meane  time,  look  on  the  following  Meeters  concerning  that 
Souldier  of  Christ  Master  Nathaniel  Ward. 


22  edward  johnson  in  1652. 

Of  the  Church  of  Christ  gathered  at  Newberry. 

In  the  latter  end  of  this  yeare,  two  sincere  servants  of  Christ,  en- 
abled by  him  with  gifts  to  declare  his*minde  unto  his  people,  came 
over  this  broad  Ocean,  and  began  to  build  the  Tenth  Church  of  Christ 
at  a  Tow'ne  called  Newberry,  their  names  being  Mr.  James  Noise,  and 
Mr.  Thomas  Parker,  somewhat  differing  from  all  the  former,  and  af- 
ter mentioned  Churches  in  the  preheminence  of  their  Presbytery,  and 
.it  were  to  be  wished  that  all  persons,  who  have  had  any  hand  in  those 
hot  contentions  which  have  fallen  out  since  about  Presbyterian  and 
Independent  Government  in  Churches,  would  have  looked  on  this  Ex- 
ample, comparing  it  with  the  Word  of  God,  and  assuredly  it  would 
have  stayed  (all  the  godly  at  lest)  of  either  part  from  such  unworthy 
expressions  as  have  passed  to  the  grief  of  many  of  Gods  people;  And 
I  doubt  not  but  this  History  will  take  of  that  unjust  accusation,  and 
slanderous  imputation  of  the  rise  of  that  floud  of  errors  and  false 
Doctrines  sprung  up  of  late,  as  flowing  from  the  Independent  or  rather 
congregationall  Church.  But  to  follow  on,  this  Town  is  scituate  about 
twelve  miles  from  Ipswitch,  neere  upon  the  wide  venting  streames  of 
Merrimeck  River,  whose  whole  strong  current  is  such,  that  it  hath 
forced  its  passage  through  the  mighty  Rocks,  which  causeth  some 
sudden  falls,  and  hinders  Shipping  from  having  any  accesse  far  into 
the  Land,  her  bankes  are  in  many  places  stored  with  Oken  Timber 
of  all  sorts,  of  which,  that,  which  they  commonly  call'd  white  Oke, 
is  not  inferious  to  our  English  Timber ;  in  this  River  lie  some  few  Is- 
lands of  fertill  Land,  this  Towne  is  stored  with  Meddow  and  upland, 
which  hath  caused  some  Gentlemen,  (who  brought  over  good  Estates, 
and  finding  then  no  better  way  to  improve  them)  to  set  upon  hus- 
bandry, amongst  whom  that  Religious  and  sincere  hearted  servant 
of  Christ  Mr.  Richard  Dummer,  sometime  a  Magistrate  in  this  little 
Common-wealth  hathholpen  on  this  Town,  their  houses  are  built  very 
scattering,  which  hath  caused  some  contending  about  removall  of 
their  place  for  Sabbath-Assemblies,  their  Cattell  are  about  foure  hun- 
dred head,  with  store  of  Corne.-land  in  tillage,  it  consists  of  about  sev- 
enty Families,  the  soules  in  Church  fellowship  are  about  an  hundred, 
the  teaching  Elders  of  this  Congregation  have  carried  it  very  lovingly 
toward  their  people,  permitting  of  them  to  assist  in  admitting  of  per- 


EDWARD  JOHNSON   IN   1652.  23 

sons  into  Church-society,  and  in  Church-censures,  so  long  as  they  Act 
regularly,  but  in  case  of  their  male-administration,  they  assume  the 
power  wholly  to  themselves,  their  godly  life/ and  conversation  hath 
hitherto  been  very  amiable,  and  their  paines  and  care  over  their  flock 
not  inferiour  to  many  others,  and  being  bound  together  in  a  more 
stricter  band  of  love  then  ordinary  with  promise  to  spend  their  dayes 
together. 

This  yeare  the  reverend  and  judicious  M.  Jos.  Glover  undertook  this 
long  voyage,  being  able  both  in  person  and  estate  for  the  work  he 
provided,  for  further  compleating  the  Colonies  in  Church  and  Com- . 
monwealth-work,  a  Printer,  which  hath  been  very  usefull  in  many 
respects ;  the  Lord  seeing  it  meet  that  this  reverend  and  holy  servant 
of  his  should  fall  short  of  the  shores  of  New  England;  but  yet  at  this 
time  he  brought  over  the  zealous  affected  and  judicious  servant  of 
his,  Master  Ezekiel  Rogers,  who  with  a  holy  and  humble  people,  made 
his  progress  to  the  North-Eastward,  and  erected  a  Towne  about  6 
miles  from  Ipswich,  called  Rowly,  where  wanting  room,  they  purchased 
some  addition  of  the  Town  of  Newberry;  yet  had  they  a  large  length 
of  land,  onely  for  the  neere  conveniency  to  the  Towne  of  Ipswich,  by 
the  which  meanes  they  partake  of  the  continued  Lectures  of  either 
Towne;  these  people  being  very  industrious  every  way,  soone  built 
many  houses,  to  the  number  of  about  threescore  families,  and  were 
the  first  people  that  set  up  making  of  Cloth  in  this  Western  World ; 
for  which  end  they  built  a  fulling-mill,  and  caused  their  little-ones  to 
be  very  diligent  in  spinning  cotton  wooll,  many  of  them  having  been 
clothiers  in  England,  till  their  zeale  to  promote  the  Gospel  of  Christ 
caused  them  to  wander ;  and  therefore  they  were  no  lesse  industrious, 
ingathering  into  Church  society,  there  being  scarce  a  man  among 
them,  but  such  as  were  meet  to  be  living  stones  in  this  building,  ac- 
cording to  the  judgement  of  man. 

The  next  Town  and  Church  of  Christ  planted  in  this  Colony,  was 
between  Salem  and  Ipswitch,  Salem  the  eldest  of  all  the  Sisters  was 
very  helpful  to  this  her  little  Sister,  nourishing  her  up  in  her  own 
bosom,  till  she  came  of  age,  being  beneficial  to  her  besides,  in  giving 
her  a  good  portion  of  Land  ;  this  Town  is  called  Wcnham,  and  is  very 


24  EDWARD  JOHNSON   IN   1652. 

well  watered,  as  most  in-land  Towns  are,  the  people  live  altogether 
upon  husbandry,  New  England  having  train'd  up  great  store  to  this 
occupation, '  they  are  encreased  in  cattel,  and  most  of  them  live  very 
well,  yet  are  they  no  great  company ;  they  were  some  good  space  of 
time  there  before  they  gathered  into  a  Church-body,"  the  godly  and 
reverend  Mr.  John  Fisk  went  thither  with  them,  at  first  setting  down 
as  a  planter  among  them,  yet  withal  he  became  helpful  in  preaching 
the  Word  unto  them,  when  they  were  but  a  few  in  number,  they 
afterward  call'd  him  to  the  office  of  a  Pastor,  with  whom  he  now  re- 
mains, labouring  in  the  Word  and  Doctrine,  with  great  industry. 

There  was  another  Towne  and  Church  of  Christ  erected  in  the 
Mattachusei  Government,  upon  the  Northern-Cape  of  the  Bay,  called 
Cape  Ann,  a  place  of  fishing,  being  peopled  with  Fishermen,  till  the 
reverend  Mr.  Richard  Blindman  came  from  a  place  in  Plimouth  Plan- 
tation  called  Green  Harbor,  with  some  few  people  of  his  acquaintance, 
and  setled  down  with  them,  named  the  Town  Glocester,  and  gathered 
into  a  Church,  being  but  a  small  number,  about  fifty  persons,  they 
called  to  office  this  godly  reverend  man,  whose  gifts  and  abilities  to 
handle  the  word,  is  not  inferiour  to  many  others,  labouring  much 
against  the  errors  of  the  times,  of  a  sweet,  humble,  heavenly  carriage ; 
This  Town  lying  out  toward  the  point  of  the  Cape,  the  access  there- 
unto by  Land  become  uneasie,  which  was  the  chief  cause  it  was  not 
more  populated ;  Their  fishing  trade  would  be  very  beneficial,  had 
they  men  of  estates  to  mannage  it ;  yet  are  they  not  without  other 
means  of  maintenance,  having  good  timber  for  shipping,  and  a  very 
sufficient  builder,  but  that  these  times  of  combustion  the  Seas  through- 
out hath  hindered  much  that  work,  yet  have  there  been  Vessels  built 
here  at  this  Town  of  late. 

Of  the  planting  the  eighteenth  Church  of  Christ  at  the 
Towne  of  Salisbury. 

For  further  perfecting  this  Wildernesse-worke ;  not  far  from  the 
Towne  of  Hampton  was  erected  another  Towne,  called  Salsbury,  be- 
ing brought  forth  as  Twins,  sometime  contending  for  eldership;  This 
being  seated  upon  the  broade  swift  torrent  of  Merrimeck,  a  very  good- 


EDWARD  JOHNSON   IN    1652.  25 

ly  River  to  behold,  were  it  not  blockt  up  with  some  suddaine  falls 
through  the  rocks ;  over  against  this  Towne  lyeth  the  Towne  of 
Newberry,  on  the  Southern  side  of  the  River  a  constant  Ferry  being 
kept  between;  for  although  the  River  be  about  half  a  mile  broad, 
yet,  by  reason  of  an  Island  that  lies  in  the  midst  thereof,  it  is  the 
better  passed  in  troublesom  weather ;  the  people  of  this  Towne  have 
of  late,  placed  their  dwellings  so  much  distanced  the  one  from  the 
other,  that  they  are  like  to  divide  into  two  Churches ;  the  scituation 
of  this  Towne  is  very  pleasant,  were  the  Rivers  Navigable  f arre  up, 
the  branches  thereof  abound  in  faire  and  goodly  medowes  with  good 
store  of  stately  Timber  upon  the  uplands  in  many  places,  this  Towne 
is  full  as  fruitfull  in  her  Land,  Chattell,  and  Inhabitants,  as  her  Sister 
Hampton;  the  people  joyned  in  Church-relation  or  brotherhood,  nere 
about  the  time  the  other  did,  and  have  desired  and  obtained  the  rev- 
erend and  graciously  godly,  M.  Thomas  Woster  to  be  their  Pastor. 

The  Town  of  Haverhill  was  built  much  about  this  time,  lying  high- 
er up  then  Salisbury,  upon  the  fair  and  large  river  of  Merrimeck ;  the 
people  are  wholly  bent  to  improve  their  labour  in  tilling  the  earth, 
and  keeping  of  cattel,  whose  yearly  encrease  incourages  them  to 
spend  their  days  in  those  remote  parts,  the  constant  penetrating  far- 
ther into  this  Wilderness,  hath  caused  the  wild  and  uncouth  woods 
to  be  nTd  with  frequented  wayes,  and  the  large  rivers  to  be  over  laid 
with  Bridges  passeable,  both  for  horse  and  foot ;  this  Town  is  of  a 
large  extent,  supposed  to  be  ten  miles  in  length,  there  being  an  over- 
weaning  desire  in  most  men  after  Medow  land,  which  hath  caused 
many  towns  to  grasp  more  into  their  hands  then  they  could  after- 
wards possibly  hold;  the  people  are  not  unmindful  also  of  the  chief 
end  of.  their  coming  hither,  namely,  to  be  made  partakers  of  the 
blessed  Ordinances  of  Christ,  that  their  souls  might  be  refreshed  with 
the  continual  income  of  his  rich  grace,  to  which  end  they  gathered  into 
a  Church-body,  and  called  to  office  the  reverend  M.  Ward,  son  to 
the  former  named  M.  Ward  of  Ipswitch. 


SAMUEL  MAVERICK  IN  1660. 

THIS  account  of  New  England  was  found  in  the  Egerton  Manu- 
scripts in  the  British  Museum  by  Henry  R.  Waters  and  was 
published  in  the  January,  1885  issue  of  the  New-England 
Historical  and  Genealogical  Register.  It  bears  internal  evidence  that  it 
was  written  by  Samuel  Maverick  who  records  that  he  arrived  in  New 
England  in  1624.  He  spent  some  years  on  Noddle's  Island,  now  East 
Boston ;  in  fact,  was  living  there  when  Winthrop  came ;  but  being  a 
zealous  Episcopalian  he  suffered  persecution  and  went  to  England  to 
complain  to  the  King.  He  was  appointed  in  1664  one  of  the  four 
Commissioners  for  the  settlement  of  difficulties  in  New  England,  and 
also  to  "reduce  the  Dutch  in  Manhadoes."  Being  unsuccessful  in  the 
Massachusetts  Colony  he  removed  to  New  York  about  1665,  where 
he  probably  died.  His  manuscript  is  entitled  A  Brief e  Discription  of 
Neiv  England  and  the  several  Townes  therein,  together  with  the  present 
Government  thereof 

Salisbury  New  &  Old — Seaven  Miles  to  the  Southward  of  Hampton 
is  Meromack  River,  on  the  mouth  of  which  on  the  Northside  is  seat- 
ted  a  Large  Toune  called  Sallisbury,  and  3  miles  above  it  a  Village 
called  old  Salisbury,  where  ther  is  a  Saw  Mill  or  two.  The  Com- 
modities this  Toune  affords  are  Corne,  Cattle,  Boards  and  Pipe 
Staues. 

Haverhill  Andover — Fouer  Leagues  up  this  River  is  Haverell,  a  pretty 
Toune  &  a  few  miles  higher  is  the  Toune  of  Andouer  both  these 
Tounes  subsist  by  Husbandry. 

Newbury — At  the  mouth  on  the  southsideof  Meromack  and  upwards 
is  seated  the  Towne  of  Newbury,  the  Houses  stand  at  a  good  distance 
each  from  other  a  feild  and  Garden  between  each  house,  and  so  on 
both  sides  the  street  for  4  miles  or  therabouts  betweene  Salisbury  and 
this  Towne,  the  River  is  broader  then  the  Thames  at  Deptford,  and 
in  the  Sumer  abounds  with  Sturgeon,  Salmon  and  other  ffresh  water 
fish.     Had  we  the  art  of  takeing  and  saveing  the  Sturgeon  it  would 

(26) 


SAMUEL  MAVERICK  IN   1660.  27 

prove  a  very  great  advantage,  the  Country  affording  Vinager,  and 
other  Materialls  to  do  it  withall. 

In  this  Towne  and  Newbury  adjoining  are  2  Meeting  Houses. 

Rowley — Three  Miles  beyound  this  Old  Newbury  is  a  large  and  pop- 
ulous Towne  called  Rowley  about  two  miles  from  the  Bay  of  Ago- 
wame  within  land  the  Inhabitants  are  most  Yorkshiremen  very  la- 
borious people  and  drive  a  pretty  trade,  makeing  Cloath  and  Ruggs 
of  Cotton  Wool,  and  also  Sheeps  wooll  with  which  in  few  yeares  the 
Countrey  will  abound  not  only  to  supply  themselves  but  also  to  send 
abroad.  This  Towne  aboundeth  with  Corne,  and  Cattle,  and  have  a 
great  number  of  Sheep. 

Ipswich — Three  Miles  beyond  Rowley  lyeth  Ipswich  at  the  head  of 
Agawame  River,  as  farr  up  as  Vessells  cane  come.  It  hath  many  In- 
habitants, and  there  farmes  lye  farr  abroad,  some  of  them  severall 
miles  from  the  Towne.     So  also  they  do  about  other  Townes. 

Wenham — Six  Miles  from  this  Towne  lyeth  a  Towne  called  Wen- 
ham  seated  about  a  great  Lake  or  Pond  which  abounds  with  all  man- 
ner of  ffresh  ffis.h,  and  such  comodities  as  other  places  have  it  af- 
fordeth. 

Gloucester — Between  these  two  Townes  there  runes  out  into  the 
Sea  that  noated  head  land  called  Cape  Ann  fower  miles  within  the 
outermost  head.  There  is  a  Passage  cutt  through  a  Marsh  between 
Cape  Ann  Harbour  &  Manisqwanne  Harbour  where  stands  the  Towne 
called  Glocester  very  comodious  for  building  of  shipping  and  ffishing. 

Manchester — Four  miles  Westward  from  Glocester,  lyeth  on  the 
Sea  side  a  small  Towne  called  Manchester,  there  is  a  Sawmill  and 
aboundance  of  Timber. 

Mackrell  &  Basse  Cove — About  six  miles  from  this  Towne  lyeth  by 
the  Sea  side  a  Village  Called  Mackarell  Coue,  and  a  mile  or  2  aboue 
on  a  Branch  of  Salem  River  lyeth  another  Village  called  Basse  Coue. 
These  two  have  Joyned  and  built  a  Church,  which  stands  between 
them  both  ower  agst  Salem. 

Salem — On  the  South  side  of  Salem  River  stands  on  a  peninsula  the 
Towne  of  Salem,  setled  some  yeares  by  a  few  people  bef or  the  Patent 
of  the  Massachusits  was  granted.  It  is  very  commodious  for  fishing, 
and  many  Vessells  have  been  built  there  and  (except  Boston)  it  hath 
as  much  Trade  as  any  place  in  New  England  both  inland  and  abroad. 


28  SAMUEL  MAVERICK   IN   1660. 

Marblehead  or  Foy — Two  miles  below  this  Towne  on  the  Southside 
of  the  Harbo1'  by  the  sea  side  lyeth  Marblehead  or  ffoy  the  greatest 
Towne  for  ffishing  in  New  England. 

Lynne — Five  miles  Westward  lyeth  the  Towne  of  Lynne  along  by 
the  sea  side,  and  two  miles  aboue  it  within  the  bounds  of  it  are  the 
greatest  Iron  works  erected  for  the  most  part  at  the  charge  of  some 
Merchants,  and  Gentlmen  here  resideing  and  cost  them  about  14000£, 
who  were  as  it  is  conceived  about  six  yeares  since  Injuriously  outted 
of  them  to  the  great  prejudice  of  the  Country  and  Owners. 


JOHN  JOSSELYN  IN  1671. 

JOHN  Josselyn,  Gent,  arrived  in  Boston  in  1638  and  was  a  guest 
of  Samuel  Maverick  at  Noddle's  Island.  He  then  went  to  Scar- 
borough, Maine,  and  stayed  with  his  brother  Henry  until  the  end 
of  1639  when  he  went  home.  In  1663  he  came  again  and  remained 
in  New  England  until  December,  1671  when  he  returned  to  England 
and  the  following  year  published  his  valuable  book  Neiv  England's 
Rarities  which  gives  an  account  of  the  flora  and  fauna  of  the  country. 
In  1674  appeared  his  description  of  ,New  England  published  under 
the  following  title :  An  Account  of  two  Voyages  to  New  England,  Where- 
in you  have  the  setting  out  of  a  Ship,  with  the  charges ;  The  prices  of  all 
necessaries  for  furnishing  a  Planter  &  his  Family  at  his  first  coming;  A 
Description  of  the  Country,  Natives  and  Creatures;  The  Goverment 
of  the  Countrey  as  it  is  now  possessed  by  the  English,  etc.  .  .  .  By  John 
Josselyn,  Gent.  Lond.  1674. 

Without  Pullin-point,  six  miles  North-east  from  Winnisimet  is  Caw- 
gust,  or  Sagust,  or  Saugut,  now  called  Linn,  situated  at  the  bottom 
of  a  Bay  near  a  River,  which  upon  the  breaking  up  of  winter  with  a 
furious  Torrent  vents  it  self  into  the  Sea,  the  Town  consists  of  more 
than  one  hundred  dwelling-houses,  their  church  being  built  on  a  level 
undefended  from  the  North-west  wind  is  made  with  steps  descending 
into  the  Earth,  their  streets  are  straight  and  but  thin  of  houses,  the 
people  most  husbandmen. 


JOHN  JOSSELYN  IN   1671.  29 

At  the  end  of  the  Sandy  beach  is  a  neck  of  land  called  Nahant,  it 
is  six  miles  in  circumference.  Black  William  an  Indian  Duke  out  of 
his  generosity  gave  this  to  the  English.  At  the  mouth  of  the  River 
runs  a  great  Creek  into  a  great  marsh  called  Rumney-marsh,  which 
is  four  miles  long  and  a  mile  broad,  this  Town  hath  the  benefit  of 
minerals  of  divers  kinds,  Iron,  Lead,  one  Iron-mill,  store  of  Cattle, 
Arable  land  and  meadow. 

To  the  North-ward  of  Linn  is  Marvil  or  Marblehead,  a  small  Har- 
bour, the  shore  rockie,  upon  which  the  Town  is  built,  consisting  of  a 
few  scattered  houses;  here  they  have  stages  for  fishermen,  Orchards, 
and  Gardens,  half  a  mile  within  land  good  pastures  and  Arable  land. 

Four  miles  North  of  Marble-head  is  situated  New-Salem  (whose 
longitude  is  315  degrees,  and  latitude  42  degrees  35  minutes)  upon  a 
plain,  having  a  River  on  the  South,  and  another  on  the  North,  it  hath 
two  Harbours,  Winter  Harbour  and  Summer  Harbour  which  lyeth 
within  Darbies  fort,  they  have  store  of  Meadow  and  Arable ;  in  this 
Town  are  some  very  rich  Merchants. 

Upon  the  Northern  Cape  of  the  Massachusetts,  that  is  Cape-Ann, 
a  place  of  fishing  is  situated,  the  Town  of  Glocester  where  the  Mass- 
achusetts Colony  first  set  down,  but  Salem  was  the  first  Town  built  in 
that  Colony,  here  is  a  Harbour  for  Ships. 

To  the  North-ward  of  Cape  Ann  is  Wonasquam,  a  dangerous  place 
to  sail  by  in  stormie  weather,  by  reason  of  the  many  Rocks  and  foam- 
ing breakers. 

The  next  Town  that  presents  itself  to  view  is  Ipswich  situated  by 
a  fair  River,  whose  first  rise  is  from  a  Lake  or  Pond  twenty  mile  up, 
betaking  its  course  through  a  hideous  Swamp  for  many  miles,  a  Har- 
bour for  Bears,  it  issueth  forth  into  a  large  Bay,  (where  they  fish  for 
Whales)  due  East  over  against  the  Islands  of  Sholes  a  great  place  of 
fishing,  the  mouth  of  that  River  is  barr'd;  it  is  a  good  haven-town, 
their  meeting-house  or  Church  is  beautifully  built,  store  of  Orchards 
and  Gardens,  land  for  husbandry  and  Cattle. 

Wenham  is  an  inland  Town  very  well  watered,  lying  between 
Salem  and  Ipswich,  consisteth  most  of  men  of  judgment  and  experi- 
ence in  re  rustica,  well  stored  with  Cattle.  At  the  first  rise  of  Ipswich 
River  in  the  highest  part  of  the  land  near  the  head  springs  of  many 


30  JOHN  JOSSELYN   IN   1671. 

considerable  Rivers;  Shashin  one  of  the  most  considerable  branches 
of  Merrimach  River,  and  also  at  the  rise  of  Mistick-River,  and  ponds 
full  of  pleasant  springs,  is  situated  Wooburn  an  inland-Town  four 
miles  square  beginning  at  the  end  of  Charles-Town  bounds. 

Six  miles  from  Ipswich  North-east  is  Rowley,  most  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants have  been  Clothiers.  ^-f 

Nine  miles  from  Salem  to  the- North  is  Agowamine,  the  best  and 
spaciousest  place  for  a  plantation,  being  twenty  leagues  to  the  North- 
ward of  New-Plimouth. 

Beyond  Agowamin  is  situated  Hampton  near  the  Sea-coasts  not  far 
from  Merrimach-River,  this  Town  is  like  a  Flower-deluce>  having  two 
streets  of  houses  wheeling  off  from  the  main  body  thereof,  they  have 
great  stores  of  salt  Marshes  and  Cattle,  the  land  is  fertil,  but  full  of 
Swamps  and  Rocks. 

Eight  miles  beyond  Agowamin  runneth  the  delightful  River  Merri- 
mach or  Morrumach,  it  is  navigable  for  twenty  miles  and  well  stored 
with  fish,  upon  the  banks  grow  stately  Oaks,  excellent  Ship  timber, 
not  inferiour  to  our  English. 

On  the  South-side  of  Merrimach-River,  twelve  miles  from  Ipswich, 
and  near  upon  the  wide  venting  streams  thereof  is  situated  Newberrie, 
the  houses  are  scattering,  well  stored  with  meadow,  upland,  and  Ar- 
able, and  about  four  hundred  head  of  Cattle. 

Over  against  Newberrie  lyes  the  Town  of  Salisbury,  where  a  con- 
stant Ferry  is  kept,  the  River  being  here  half  a  mile  broad,  the  Town 
scatteringly  built. 

Hard  upon  the  River  of  Shashin  where  Merrimach  receives  this 
and  the  other  branch  into  its  body,  is  seated  Andover,  stored  with 
land  and  Cattle. 

Beyond  this  Town  by  the  branch  of  Merrimach-River  called  Sha- 
shin, lyeth  Haverhill,  a  Town  of  large  extent  about  ten  miles  in  length, 
the  inhabitants  Husbandmen,  this  Town  is  not  far   from  Salisbury. 


In  September  [1663]   following  my  Arrivage  in  the  Massachusets 
about  the  twelfth  hour  of  the  eight  day,  I  shipt  my  self  and  goods 


JOHN  JOSSELYN   IN   1671.  31 

in  a  Bark  bound  to  the  Eastward,  .  .  .  About  nine  of  the  clock  at 
night  we  came  to  Salem  and  lay  aboard  all  night. 

The  Ninth  day  we  went  ashore  to  view  the  Town  which  is  a  mile 
long,  and  lay  that  night  at  a  Merchants  house. 

The  Tenth  day  we  came  from  Salem  about  twelve  of  the  clock 
back  to  Marble-head;  here  we  went  ashore  and  recreated  our  selves 
with  Musick  and  a  cup  of  Sack  and  saw  the  Town,  about  ten  at  night 
we  returned  to  our  Bark  and  lay  aboard. 

The  Eleventh  being  Saturday,  and  the  wind  contrary,  we  came  to 
Charles-town  again,  about  twelve  of  the  clock  we  took  store  of 
Mackarel. 


JOHN   DUNTON  IN  1686. 

THIS  young  bookseller  from  London  came  to  New  England  in 
1686  to  collect  a  debt  of  five  hundred  pounds  and  incidentally 
to  sell  a  considerable  shipment  of  books  that  he  had  brought 
with  him.  Soon  after  arriving  in  Boston  he  opened  a  bookshop,  and 
there  he  remained  for  five  months  during  which  time  he  indulged 
in  "rambles"  to  nearby  towns,  Ipswich  being  the  most  distant.  After 
returning  to  London,  to  his  trade  of  bookselling  he  added  that  of 
publisher  and  shortly  began  to  write  books  and  pamphlets  in  great 
number. 

His  Letters  from  New  England  were  written  some  years  after  his 
visit  to  Boston,  probably  about  the  year  1700,  and  must  not  be  con- 
sidered first-hand  descriptions  written  upon  the  spot.  Undoubtedly 
he  visited  the  several  towns  that  he  describes  and  he  also  in  all  prob- 
ability met  the  men  and  women  who  are  characterized,  but  it  has  been 
demonstrated*  that  his  descriptions  are  largely  borrowed  from  Josselyn 
and  Roger  Williams  and  his  pictures  of  New  England  types  are  height- 
ened by  liberal  extracts  from  the  English  authors  of  his  time.  His 
account  is  readable,  however,  and  in  the  main  may  be  accepted  as 
approximating  a  picture  of  the  Colony  at  the  time  of  his  visit. 

♦Chester  N.  Greenough  in  Publications  of  the  Colonial  Society  of  Massachusetts, 
Vol.  14,  pp.  213-257. 


32  JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686. 

My  Fifth  Ramble  from  Boston  was  to  a  Town  now  call'd  Lin,  but 
formerly  by  the  Indians,  Cawgust,  Sawust,  Saugut :  To  this  Town 
three  or  four  of  my  Acquaintance  took  a  Ramble  with  me,  for  the 
day  was  so  inviting,  that  none  that  had  any  leisure  to  go  abroad, 
wou'd  stay  at  home  :  They  were  before-hand  determin'd  to  go  abroad, 
so  that  I  didn't  reckon  my  self  much  beholden  to  'em  for  their  Com- 
pany, only  they  gave  me  leave  to  Chuse  the~place,  and  I  pitch'd  up- 
on Lin,  being  (as  I  before  told  you)  still  for  New  Discoveries.  .  .  . 
We  all  agreed  to  this  motion,  and  in  a  little  Time  came  to  Lin  ;  which 
is  a  Town  situated  at  the  Bottom  of  a  Bay  without  Pullin-Point,  six 
miles  North-East  from  Winnisimet,  near  a  River,  which  upon  the 
breaking  up  of  Winter  vents  it  self  with  a  furious  Torrent  into  the 
Sea :  The  Town  consists  of  more  than  an  hundred  dwelling  Houses, 
their  meeting-house  being  built  upon  a  level,  and  defended  from  the 
North- West  Wind,  and  is  made  with  steps  descending  to  it.  Tho  it 
be  none  of  the  first-rate  Towns  in  this  Countrey,  yet  there  are  many 
others  that  are  inferiour  to  it. 

Neither  my  self  nor  any  of  my  Friends  with  me  had  any  acquaint- 
ance there ;  so  we  went  to  a  Publick  House,  where  we  met  with  good 
Accommodations:  And  our  Host  wou'd  needs  be  acquainted  with 
us  whether  we  wou'd  or  no;  he  was  a  bold  forward  sort  of  a  man, 
and  wou'd  thrust  himself  into  our  Company,  and  take  up  all  the  Dis- 
course too,  which  was  for  the  most  part  of  his  own  good  Qualities, 
Knowledge,  and  Understanding;  valuing  himself  at  such  a  rate  that 
he  wou'd  have  made  one  of  the  three  Dukes  of  Dunstable ;  and  yet 
wou'd  bring  Scripture  to  apologize  for  his  Impertinence,  telling  us 
that  a  Candle  shou'd  not  be  hid  under  a  Busfhel],  and  made  sensible 
that  he  wou'd  not  hide  his,  tho'  it  was  but  a  Snuff,  or  at  best  but  a 
rush  Candle ;  and  therefore  those  few  good  Qualities  he  had,  he  was 
no  Niggard  in  displaying :  Some  of  the  Company  affronted  him  suf- 
ficiently, but  he  took  no  notice  on't,  for  he  thought  no  vice  so  preju- 
dical  as  Blushing.  He  din'd  with  us,  without  being  invited,  for  he 
needed  it  not ;  and  his  talk  at  the  Table  was  like  Benjamin's  Mess, 
five  times  his  part  to  any  others ;  and  tho'  we  often  shifted  the  Theme, 
yet  no  Argument  wou'd  shut  him  out  for  a  Quarreller;  and  rather 
than  be  non-plust,  wou'd  fly  to  Nonsense  for  Sanctuary;  For  my  part 


JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686.  33 

I  admir'd  the  address  of  his  humour,  and  let  him  alone,  for  I  perceiv'd 
he  wou'd  be  sooner  dash'd  out  of  anything  than  Countenance;  and 
tho'  at  first  he  seem'd  very  troublesome,  I  was  at  last  pleas'd  with  him ; 
for  I  found  it  was  his  trade,  and  that  his  Words  serv'd  equally 
for  all  men,  and  were  all  equally  to  no  purpose :  The  best  thing  in 
him  was,  that  his  Troublesomeness  made  me  shake  off  that  Indisposi- 
tion that  had  lain  upon  me  all  Day,  and  brought  me  again  to  a  good 
Humour.  Having  satisfyed  the  Cravings  of  our  Stomacks  with  a 
good  Dinner,  and  exhilerated  our  Spirits  with  some  good  Liquor,  and 
being  at  last  wearied  with  our  Landlords  Impertinence;  We  paid 
our  Reckoning,  and  return'd  towards  Boston  again. 

I  write  to  others  the  Relation  of  my  Rambles,  but  unto  you,  my 
Dear,  I  write  of  Business :  And  so  it  happens,  that  'tis  my  Business 
here  to  give  you  a  Relation  of  my  Rambles :  For  having  stock'd  the 
Town  of  Boston  with  my  Books ;  (some  having  bought  more,  I'm 
afraid,  than  they  intend  to  pay  for)  and  having  still  a  Considerable 
Quantity  left,  Several  Gentlemen  have  given  me  great  Encourage- 
ment, (by  their  Promises  of  Assisting  me  in  the  Disposal  of  them)  to 
send  a  Venture  to  Salem,  (the  next  considerable  Town  to  Boston  in 
New  England)  and  particularly  one  Mr.  Sewel,*  who  is  a  Magistrate 
in  that  Town,  has  given  me  Assurance  of  a  Kind  Reception  there. 
Besides,  I  am  the  more  Encourag'd  to  it,  as  'tis  in  this  Town  the 
generous  Mr.  Herrick  has  taken  a  House;  to  whom  for  his  Bottle  of 
Water  at  Sea,  mention'd  in  my  Letter  to  Brother  Lake,  I  was  so  much 
beholden  :  So  that  upon  these  considerations  being  resolv'd  to  send 
a  Cargo  thither,  I  thought  it  wou'd  be  first  convenient  to  go  my  self, 
and  see  the  Town,  and  take  a  Warehouse  there,  before  I  sent  my  Books. 
For  I  design  to  intrust  Palmer  as  my  Factor ;  for  having  trusted 
much  in  the  adjacent  Towns,  (especially  at  Connecticot)  I  cann't  be 
above  three  Days  absent  from  Boston  :  And  having  thus  resolved  to 
Ramble  to  Salem,  it  is  my  Ramble  thither,  my  Reception  there,  and 
the  Success  thereof,  relating  to  my  Books,  that  I  intend  shall  be  the 
Subject  of  this  Letter. 

I  rambled  to  Salem  all  alone,  (save  that  by  an  Intercourse  of  Souls, 
♦Major  Stephen  Sewel],  Clerk  of  Courts  and  afterwards  Register  of  Deeds. 


34  JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686. 

my  Dear,  I  had  your  Company)  and  upon  Byard  on  Ten  Toes  too, 
like  a  meer  Coriat :  I  shall  say  nothing  of  the  several  Towns  I  Ram- 
bled through  to  Salem,  designing  to  describe  them  in  my  Ramble  to 
Ipswich :  But  it  may  not  perhaps  be  altogether  unprofitable  to  tell 
you  how  I  employ 'd  my  self,  as  I  rambled  along:  For  tho'  I  went  by 
my  self,  yet  I  wanted  no  Company;  for  I  convers'd  with  every  thing 
I  met  with ;  and  cou'd  in  some  measure  say  with  one  of  the  Antient 
Fathers,  I  was  never  less  alone  than  when  I  was  alone.  With  these  and 
the  like  Reflections  I  entertain'd  my  self  upon  the  Road,  and  about  Four 
of  the  Clock  in  the  afternoon,  I  came  to  Salem ;  and  found  the  Town 
about  a  mile  long,  with  many  fine  Houses  in  it;  and  is  reputed  the 
next  town  to  Boston  for  trade  :  The  Account,  my  Dear,  I  have  re- 
ceived about  the  Original  of  this  Town,  is,  That  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1628,  Mr.  John  Endicot  with  a  number  of  English  People  sat 
down  by  Cape  Ann,  at  that  place  called  afterwards  Gloucester,  but 
their  abiding  Place  was  at  Salem,  where  they  built  a  Town  in  1629, 
and  there  they  gathered  a  Church,  consisting  but  of  70  Persons;  but 
afterwards  it  increased  to  47  Churches  in  joynt  Communion  with  one 
another ;  and  those  Churches  were  about  7750  Souls :  Mr.  Endicot 
was  chosen  their  first  Governour. 

The  first  Person  I  went  to  visit  in  Salem,  was  Mr.  Herrick :  How 
kindly  he  receiv'd  a  poor  Traveller,  my  Dear,  whose  Life  he  had  sav'd 
at  Sea,  you  may  Easier  guess  than  I  relate.  From  his  House,  we  went 
to  take  a  Glass,  and  talk  over  our  Sea-Voyage :  What  we  found  hard 
to  suffer,  twas  easie  to  recite  :  Nay,  there  is  a  certain  kind  of  Pleasure 
in  the  reflecting  upon  Dangers  that  are  past.  And  tho'  now  it  was 
several  Months  since,  I  found  the  Deliverances  we  had  then,  were 
still  fresh  in  his  Remembrance.  When  we  were  at  the  Tavern,  among 
other  things,  I  renew'd  my  Acknowledgements  for  his  former  kind- 
ness, and  drank  a  kind  Remembrance  in  Wine,  to  the  Bottle  of  Water 
that  had  sav'd  my  Life  at  Sea ;  and  after  that,  to  Captain  Jenner,* 
and  our  Ships  Crew. 

I  have  already  told  you,  my  Dear,  that  Travellers  take  Pleasure  in 
recounting  their  past  Dangers;  and  had  you  heard  how  Mr.  Herrick 

*Dunton  came  over  in  the  ship  Susannah  and  Thomas,  commanded  by  Captain 
Thomas  Jenner. 


JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686.  35 

was  affected  with  it,  I  am  sure  you  cou'd  have  had  a  great  Esteem 
for  him ;  he  speaks  of  you  with  much  Honour  and  Regard,  and  I  be- 
lieve we  drank  your  health  a  dozen  times  in  an  hours  sitting.  From 
hence  he  went  with  me  to  take  a  Ware-house,  which  I  think  stands 
very  conveniently.  Having  settled  that  affair,  Mr.  Herrick  wou'd 
fain  have  had  me  lodg'd  with  him ;  which  I  believe  I  shou'd  have 
accepted,  but  that  Mr.  Sewel,  the  Magistrate  of  Salem  I  before  men- 
tioned, sent  me  word  he  shou'd  take  it  very  unkindly  if  I  did  not  make 
his  House  my  Quarters  :  Whereupon,  I  desir'd  Mr.  Herricks  Excuse, 
and  lay  at  Mr.  Sewel's  who  gave  me  a  Reception  worthy  of  himself. 
The  Entertainment  he  gave  me  was  truly  Noble  and  Generous,  and 
my  Lodging  so  Extraordinary  both  with  respect  unto  the  Largeness 
of  the  Room,  and  Richness  of  the  Furniture,  as  might  have  Entertain'd 
a  King.  So  free  he  was,  that  had  I  staid  a  month  there,  I  had  been 
welcome  gratis.  To  give  you  his  Character ;  in  brief,  my  Dear,  He 
is  a  Person  whose  Purse  is  great,  but  his  Heart  greater ;  he  loves  to 
be  bountiful,  yet  limits  his  Bounty  by  Reason  :  He  knows  what  is 
good,  and  loves  it;  and  loves  to  do  it  himself  for  its  own  sake,  and 
not  for  thanks  :  He  is  the  Mirror  of  Hospitality,  and  neither  Abraham 
nor  Lot  were  ever  more  kind  to  strangers.  As  he  is  a  Magistrate,  he 
desires  to  have  his  Greatness  measured  by  his  Goodness;  and  his 
Care  is  to  live  so,  as  to  be  an  Example  to  the  People.  He  wishes 
there  were  fewer  Laws,  so  that  they  were  better  observ'd ;  and  for  those 
that  are  Mulctuary,  he  thinks  their  institution  not  to  be  like  Briars  and 
Thorns,  to  catch  every  thing  they  lay  hold  of,  but  like  Sea-marks  to 
avoid  the  Shipwreck  of  ignorant  and  unwary  Passengers.  He  thinks 
himself  then  most  honourably  seated,  when  he  gives  Mercy  the  Up- 
per hand ;  and  strives  rather  to  purchase  a  good  Name  than  Land. 

Having  slept  well  in  my  New  Quarters,  the  next  Day  I  went  to  pay 
a  Visit  to  the  Ministers  of  Salem :  (For  you  know,  my  Dear,  they  are 
generally  the  greatest  Benefactors  to  Booksellers;  So  that  my  pay- 
ing them  a  Visit,  is  but  in  other  words  to  go  among  my  Customers) 
who  were  Mr.  Higgins,*  an  Antient  and  Grave  Minister,  in  his  Sta- 
ture and  Physiognomy  very  much  resembling  your  Reverend  Father. 
He  is  one  that   knows  the  Burthen  of  his  calling,  and  makes  it  [his] 

♦Rev.  John  Higginson,  the  minister  of  the  First  Church. 


130S7S3 


36  JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686. 

business  to  Feed,  and  not  Fleece  his  Flock.  In  his  Discourse  there  is 
substance  as  well  as  Rhetorick ;  and  he  utters  more  things  than 
Words  :  In  controversal  Divinity,  he  uses  soft  words,  but  hard  Ar- 
guments ;  and  labours  more  to  shew  the  Truth  of  his  Cause,  than  his 
Spleen  :  His  sermon  is  limited  by  its  Method,  and  not  by  the  hour- 
glass ;  and  his  Devotion  goes  along  with  him  out  of  the  pulpit.  He 
preaches  twice  on  the  Lord's  Day,  and  his  Conversation  is  every  Days 
Exercise.  I  din'd  at  his  House,  and  he  promises  me  great  Assistance 
in  my  Business,  and  Speaks  of  your  Father  with  a  World  of  Honour. 
From  him,  I  went  to  visit  Mr.  Noyse,*  his  AssistantT^who  is  a  hail, 
lusty  man,  appears  to  be  my  hearty  Friend,  and  treated  me  with  very 
much  respect. 

Having  made  these  Visits,  the  next  day  I  went  to  Dine  with  Mr. 
Herrick,  who  gave  me  a  very  handsome  and  genteel  Reception,  and 
treated  me  with  all  that  was  rare  in  the  Countrey,  both  as  to  variety 
of  Fish  and  Flesh,  and  Choice  of  good  Wine.  In  the  afternoon  he 
propos'd  to  shew  me  the  Countrey  round  about  Salem ;  and  the  next 
morning  we  were  to  visit  Drinkwater  (the  Carpenter  of  the  Ship  we 
came  to  Boston  in)  who  lives  a  mile  from  Salem.  Drinkwater  was  very 
glad  to  see  his  Two  Fellow  Travellers,  and  gave  us  the  welcome  of  his 
House.  And  so  Mr.  Herrick  and  my  self  came  back  again  to  Salem. 
The  next  morning  I  took  my  leave  of  Mr.  Sewel,  making  my  Ac- 
knowledgments to  him  for  all  his  Favours:  Who  was  pleas'd  to  tell 
me,  I  shou'd  have  been  more  welcome  had  I  made  a  longer  stay :  And 
renewed  his  former  Promise  of  giving  all  the  Encouragement  he  cou'd 
to  my  Venture,  when  it  came  thither.  I  then  went  to  take  my  leave 
of  Mr.  Herrick  also,  to  whom  I  esteem  my  self  very  much  beholden, 
for  his  Generous  Treatment  and  great  Civility.  And  so  having  spent 
four  Days  in  Salem,  to  my  great  satisfaction,  I  return 'd.  to  Boston; 
and  having  made  up  a  very  considerable  Cargo,  I  sent  Palmer  with 
it  to  Salem  :  Where  he  had  very  good  Trading  and  took  Money 
apace.  But  not  having  my  Eye  on  him,  I  was  told  he  neglected  his 
Business  and  fell  to  shooting ;  but  quite  missed  the  Mark  I  aimed  at 
which  was,  to  have  my  Books  sold. 

♦Rev.' Nicholas  Noyes,  settled  in  1683,  a  conspicuous  figure  at  the  time  of  the 
witchcraft  delusion  in  Salem. 


JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686.  37 


My  Landlady  (Mrs.  Wilkins)  having  a  Sister  at  Ipswich,  which  she 
had  not  seen  a  great  while,  Mrs.  Comfort,  her  Daughter,  (a  young  Gen- 
tlewoman Equally  happy  in  the  Perfections  both  of  her  Body  and  mind,) 
had  a  great  desire  to  see  her  Aunt,  having  never  been  at  her  House, 
nor  in  that  Part  of  the  Countrey ;  Which  Philaret*  having  likewise 
a  desire  to  see,  and  being  never  backward  to  accommodate  the  Fair 
Sex,  Profers  his  Service  to  wait  upon  her  thither,  which  was  readily 
accepted  by  the  young  Lady,  who  knew  Philaret  so  well,  that  she 
thought  her  self  safe  enough  under  his  Protectiom^Nor  were  her 
Parents  less  willing  to  trust  her  with  him ;  and  Philaret  was  as  care- 
ful not  to  betray  his  Trust  to  any  Inconvenience.  And  now,  Sister, 
all  things  being  ready  for  our  Ramble,  I  took  my  Fair  one  up  behind 
me,  and  rid  to  the  River-side,  which  tho'  it  be  often  and  usually  cross'd 
in  a  Canoo,  yet  I  rather  chose  to  cross  it  in  a  Ferry,  having  my  Horse 
with  me:  Having  cross'd  the  River,  We  mounted  again,  and  rid  on 
our  way;  meeting  as  we  went  a  long  with  two  or  three  Indians,  who 
courteously  saluted  us,  with,  'What  Chear,  Netop?'  Netop  in  the 
Indian  Language  signifies  Friend:  I  return'd  their  Salutation,  and 
pass'd  on ;  not  without  observing  that  there  is  a  vein  of  Civility  and 
Courtesie  runs  in  the  Blood  of  these  Wild  Indians,  both  among  them- 
selves and  towards  strangers. 

This  Captain  Marshalf  is  a  hearty  old  Gentleman,  formerly  one  of 
Oliver's  Souldiers,  upon  which  he  very  much  values  himself:  He 
keeps  an  Inn  upon  the  Road  between  Boston  and  Marble-Head :  His 
House  was  well-furnished,  and  we  had  Very  good  Accommodation. 
I  enquir'd  of  the  Captain  what  memorable  Actions  he  had  been  in 
under  Oliver,  and  I  found  I  cou'd  not  have  pleas'd  him  better ;  he  was 
not  long  in  Resolving  me  of  the  Civil  Wars  at  his  Fingers  Ends ; 
and  if  we  may  believe  him,  Oliver  did  hardly  anything  that  was  con- 
siderable without  his  Assistance ;  For  his  good  Service  at  the  Fatal 
Battel  of  Naseby,  (which  gave  such  a  Turn  to  the  King's  all  tirs,  that 
he  cou'd  never  after  come  to  a  pitch'd  Battel,)  he  was  made  a  Cap- 

*The  name  Dunton  applied  to  himself,  signifying  "a  lover  of  virtue.." 
ICaptain  Thomas  Marshall,  innkeeper  at  Lynn. 


38  JOHN  DUNTON   IN   1686. 

tain ;  from  thence  he  went  to  Leicester,  and  besieg'd  that ;  then  went 
to  York,  and  afterwards  to  Marston-Moor ;  and  in  short,  Rambled  so 
far  in  his  Discourse,  that  if  I  wou'd  have  stay'd  as  long  as  he'd  have 
talk'd,  he  wou'd  have  quite  spoil'd  my  Ramble  to  Plymouth ;  and 
therefore  giving  Mrs.  Comfort  to  understand  that  I  begun  to  be  un- 
easie,  she  very  seasonably  came  into  my  Relief,  and  the  Captain  was 
forc'd  to  leave  a  great  part  of  his  Noble  Exploits  unrelated.  My 
Fellow-Traveller  and  I,  having  taken  our  leave  of  the  Captain,  quick- 
ly mounted,  and  went  on  our  Ramble  towards  Marble-Head. 

This  Discourse  had  brought  us  to  Marvail,  or  Marble-Head,  a  small 
Town  or  Harbour,  the  Shore  Rocky,  upon  which  the  Town  is  built, 
consisting  of  a  few  scattered  Houses,  where  they  have  Stages  for 
Fishermen,  Orchards  and  Gardens ;  half  a  mile  within  Land,  there 
is  good  Pastures,  and  Arable  Land,  very  good.  Having  left  Marble- 
Head  behind  us,  we  Rambled  towards  New  Salem,  four  miles  North 
of  Marble-Head,  and  directly  in  our  way  to  Ipswic}i ;  but  having  given 
a  large  Account  of  this  Place,  and  of  my  Ramble  thither,  and  staying 
there  for  some  time,  in  a  Letter  to  my  Dearest  Iris,  which  you  may 
see  when  you  please,  I  shall  say  nothing  further  of  it  here,  but  that 
having  call'd  at  a  Friends  House,  and  refresh'd  our  Selves,  we  Ram- 
bled on  towards  Wenham. 

******** 

I  had  just  concluded  my  Discourse,  as  we  came  to  Wenham,  which 
is  an  Inland  Town,  very  well  watered,  lying  between  Salem  and  Ips- 
wich, and  consisteth  most  of  Men  of  Judgment  and  Experience  in 
Country  Affairs ;  well 'stored  with  Cattel.  At  the  first  Rise  of  Ipswich 
River,  in  the  highest  part  of  the  Land,  near  the  Head,  are  the  Springs 
of  many  Considerable  Rivers ;  Shashin,  one  of  the  most  considerable 
Branches  of  Merrimack  River;  and  also  at  the  rise  of  Mislick  River, 
are  Ponds  full  of  Pleasant  Springs.  In  this  Town  of  Wenham,  lives 
one  Mr.  Geery  ;*  whose  Father  is  now  a  Captain  in  Boston,  in  so  de- 
licious a  Paradice,  that  of  all  the  Places  in  the  Countrey,  1  shou'd 
have  chosen  this  for  the  most  happy  Retirement :  His  House  is  neat 
and  handsome,  fitted  with  all  Conveniences  proper  for  the  Countrey  : 

*Rev.  Joseph  Gerrish,  born  in  1650  in  Newbury. 


JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686.  39 

And  does  so  abound  with  every  thing  of  his  own,  that  he  has  no  Oc- 
casion to  trouble  his  Neighbours:  The  lofty  spreading  Pines  on  each 
side  of  his  House,  are  a  sufficient  Shelter  from  the  Winds ;  And  the 
Warm  Sun  so  Kindly  ripens  both  his  Fruits  and  Flowers,  as  if  the 
Spring,  the  Summer  and  the  Autumn  had  agreed  together  to 
thrust  Winter  out  of  Doors ;  He  entertain'd  us  with  such  pleasant 
Fruits,  as  I  must  own  Old  England  is  a  stranger  to,  and  amongst  all 
its  great  Varieties,  knows  nothing  so  Delicious. 

******** 

The  honest  Netop,  or  Friend  Indian,  had  but  just  made  an  End  of 
his  Discourse,  as  we  came  to  Ipswich :  I  gave  him  many  thanks  for 
the  Information  he  had  given  me,  and  also  for  his  good  Company, 
and  wou'd  have  made  him  drink,  but  he  very  thankfully  refus'd  it : 
And  so  we  parted,  he  going  about  his  Occasions,  and  I  and  my  Fair 
Fellow-Traveller,  to  Mr.  Steward's,*  whose  Wife  was  Mrs.  Comfort's 
own  Aunt;  whose  Joy  to  see  her  Niece  at  Ipswich,  was  sufficiently 
Express'd  by  the  Noble  Reception  we  met  with,  and  the  Treatment 
we  found  there ;  which  far  out-did  whate'er  we  cou'd  have  Thought : 
And  tho'  my  self  was  but  a  Stranger  to  them,  yet  the  Extraordinary 
Civility  and  respect  they  shew'd  me,  gave  me  reason  enough  to  think 
I  was  very  Welcome. 

It  was  late  when  we  came  thither,  and  we  were  both  very  weary, 
which  yet  wou'd  not  Excuse  us  from  the  Trouble  of  a  very  Splendid 
Supper,  before  I  was  permitted  to  go  to  Bed ;  which  was  got  ready 
in  so  short  a  time,  as  wou'd  have  made  us  think,  had  we  not  known 
the  Contrary,  that  it  had  been  ready  Provided  against  we  came.  Tho' 
our  Supper  was  extraordinary,  yet  I  had  so  great  a  desire  to  go  to 
Bed,  as  made  it  to  me  a  troublesome  Piece  of  Kindness.  But  this 
being  happily  over,  I  took  my  leave  of  my  Fellow-Traveller,  and  was 
conducted  to  my  appartment  by  Mrs.  Stewart  herself,  who  Character 
I  shan't  attempt  tonight,  being  so  very  weary,  but  reserve  till  to 
morrow  morning :  Only  I  must  let  you  know  that  my  appartment 
was  so  Noble,  and  the  Furniture  so  suitable  to   it,  that  I  doubt  not 

*William  Stewart  died  in  Ipswich,  Aug.  5,  1693  aged  44  years.  Me  lived  in  the 
ancient  house  yet  standing  at  the  corner  of. High  and  Manning  streets  and  novv 
known  as  the  Caleb  Lord  house. 


40  JOHN  DUNTON  IN    1686. 

but  even  the  King  himself  has  been  often-times  contented  with  a 
worser  Lodging.    . 

Having  repos'd  my  self  all  Night  upon  a  Bed  of  Down,  (than  which 
there  cou'd  be  nothing  softer  but  the  Arms  of  Iris,)  I  slept  so  very 
soundly  that  the  Sun,  (who  lay  not  on  so  soft  a  Bed  as  I  did)  had  got 
the  start  of  me,  and  rise  before  me;  but  was  so  kind  however  as  to 
make  me  one  of  his  first  visits,  and  to  give  me  the  Bonjeour ;  on  which 
I  straight  got  up  and  dress' d  my  self,  having  a  mind  to  look  about 
me  and  see  where  I  was :  And  having  took  a  view  of  Ipswich,  I  found 
it  to  be  situated  by  a  fair  River,  whose  first  Rise  from  a  Lake  or  Pond 
was  twenty  miles  up,  breaking  its  course  thorow  a  hideous  Swamp 
for  many  miles,  a  harbour  for  Bears ;  it  issueth  forth  intQ  a  largo  Bay, 
(where  they  fish  for  Whales,)  due  East  over  against  the  Island  of 
Sholes,  a  great  place  of  fishing;*  the  mouth  of  that  River  is  barr'd  : 
It  is  a  good  Haven  Town  ;  their  Meeting-House  or  Church  is  built 
very  beautifully:  There  is  store  of  Orchards  and  Gardens  about  it, 
and  good  Land  for  Cattel  and  Husbandry. 

But  I  remember,  Sister,  I  promis'd  to  give  you  Mrs.  Steward's 
Character,  and  if  I  hadn't,  yet  Gratitude  and  Justice  wou'd  exact  it 
of  me :  Her  Stature  is  of  a  middle  size  fit  for  a  Woman ;  Her  Face 
is  still  the  magazine  of  Beauty,  whence  she  may  fetch  Artillery  enough 
to  wound  a  Thousand  Lovers ;  and  when  she  was  about  18,  perhaps 
there  never  was  a  Face  more  sweet  and  charming :  Nor  cou'd  it  well 
be  otherwise,  since  now  at  33,  all  you  call  sweet  and  ravishing,  is  in 
her  face;  which  'tis  as  great  a  Pleasure  to  behold,  as  a  perpetual 
Sunshine,  without  any  Clouds  at  all;  and  yet  all  this  sweetness  is 
joyn'd  with  such  attractive  vertue  as  draws  all  to  a  certain  distance, 
and  there  detains  them  with  reverence  and  admiration,  none  ever 
daring  to  approach  her  nigher,  or  having  power  to  go  further  off. 
She's  so  obliging,  courteous  and  civil,  as  if  those  qualities  were  only 
born  with  her,  and  rested  in  her  Bosom  as  their  Center..  Her  Speech 
and  her  Behaviour  is  so  gentle,  sweet,  and  affable,  that  whatsoever 
Men  may  talk  of  Magic,  there  is  none  Charms  but  she.  So  good  a 
Wife  she  is,  she  frames  her  Nature  to  her  Husband's;  the  Hiacinth 

*The  previous  fifty-three  words  are  taken  almost  verbatim  from  Edward  John- 
son's Wonder  Working  Providence,  London,  1654. 


JOHN  DUNTON   IN   1686.  41 

follows  not  the  Sun  more  willingly,  than  she  her  Husbands  pleasure. 
Her  Household  is  her  Charge ;  her  care  to  that,  makes  her  but  seldom 
a  Non-resident.  Her  Pride  is  to  be  Neat  and  Cleanly,  and  her  Thrift 
not  to  be  Prodigal.  And,  to  conclude,  is  both  Wise  and  Religious, 
which  makes  her  all  that  I  have  said  before. 

In  the  next  place,  Sister,  I  suppose  yourself  will  think  it  reasonable, 
that  unto  Mrs.  Stewards,  I  shou'd  add  her  Husband's  Character; 
whose  Worth  and  Goodness  do  well  merit  it :  As  to  his  Stature  'tis 
inclining  to  Tall ;.  and  as  to  his  Aspect,  if  all  the  Lineaments  of  a 
Sincere  and  honest-hearted  Man  were  lost  out  of  the  World,  they 
might  be  all  retrievd,  by  looking  on  his  Face:  He's  ^ne  whose 
Bounty  is  limited  by  Reason/  not  by  Ostentation ;  and  to  make  it  last, 
he  deals  it  discreetly ;  as  we  Sowe  our  Land  not  by  the  Sack,  but  by 
the  handful :  He  is  so  sincere  and  upright,  that  his  word  and  his 
meaning  never  shake  hands  and  part,  but  always  go  together:  His 
Mind  is  always  so  serene,  that  Thunder  does  but  rock  him  a  sleep, 
which  breaks  other  Mens  slumbers.  His  Thoughts  have  an  Aim  as 
High  as  Heaven,  tho'  their  Residence  be  in  the  Valley  of  an  humble 
Heart.  He  is  not  much  given  to  talk,  tho'  he  knows  how  to  do  it  as 
well  as  any  Man  :  He  loves  his  Friend,  and  will  do  any  thing  for  him, 
except  it  be  to  wink  at  his  faults,  of  which  he  will  be  always  a  severe 
Reprover:  He  is  so  good  a  Husband,  that  he  is  worthy  of  the  Wife, 
that  he  Enjoys,  and  wou'd  even  make  a  bad  Wife  good  by  his  Example. 

Ipswich,  my  Sister,  is  a  Country  Town,  not  very  large,  and  when 
a  Stranger  arrives  there,  'tis  quickly  known  to  every  one  :  It  is  no 
wonder  then  that  the  next  day  after  our  Arrival,  the  News  of  it  was 
carry'd  to  Mr.  Hubbald,*  the  Minister  of  the  Town,  who  hearing  that 
I  was  the  Person  that,  had  brought  over  so  great  a  venture  of  Learn- 
ing, did  me  the  Honour  to  make  me  a  visit  at  Mr.  Steward's,  where 
I  lay,  and  afterwards  kindly  invited  me  and  my  Fellow  Traveller  to 
his  own  House,  where  he  was  pleas'd  to  give  us  a  very  handsome 
Entertainment.  His  writing  of  the  History  of  Indian  Warrs,  shews 
him  to  be  a  Person  of  good  Parts  and  Understanding  :  He  is  a  sober, 
grave,  and  well  accomplished  Man ;  a  good  Preacher  (as  all  the  Town 
affirm,  for  I  didn't  hear  him)  and  one  that  lives  according  to  his 
Preaching. 

*Rev.  William  Hubbard,  minister  and  historian. 


42  JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686. 


The  next  day  I  was  for  another  Ramble,  in  which  Mr.  Steward  was 
pleas'd  to  accompany  me,  (but  I  left  Mrs.  Comfort  with  her  Aunt) 
and  the  place  we  went  to,  was  a  Town  call'd  Rowley,  lying  six  miles 
North-East  from  Ipswich,  where  most  of  the  Inhabitants  had  been 
Clothiers :  But  there  was  that  Day  a  great  Game  of  Foot-Ball  to  be 
play'd,  which  was  the  occasion  of  our  going  thither ;  There  was  an- 
other Town  that  play'd  against  them,  as  is  sometimes  common  in 
England ;  but  they  play'd  with  their  bare  feet,  which  I  thought  was 
very  odd ;  but  it  was  upon  a  broad  Sandy  Shoar,  free  from  Stones; 
which  made  it  more  easy.  Neither  were  they  so  apt  to  trip  up  one 
anothers  heels  and  quarrel,  as  I  have  seen  'em  in  England^-.  .  .  Af- 
ter their  Sport  was  over  we  return'd  home.  .  .  . 

From  whence  we  were  not  long  a  going  to  his  House,  where  Mrs. 
Steward  had  provided  us  a  good  Supper,  and  gave  us  a  hearty  welcome 
home. 

You  know  my  Rambling  Humour,  Sister,  and  that  I  am  still  for 
new  Discoveries,  which  made  me  the  next  morning  Enquire  of  Mr. 
Steward's  Servants  what  other  Towns  there  lay  near  Ipswich :  (for  I 
had  a  months  mind  that  Day  to  make  another  Ramble)  and  they  ac- 
quainted me  that  about  Seven  miles  off  there  was  the  Town  of  Glou- 
sester,  and  that  their  Mistress  had  a  Kinswoman  that  liv'd  there,  and 
therefore  they  believ'd  she  wou'd  be  very  ready  to  go  along  with  me 
thither.  I  was  very  well  pleas'd  with  this  Information,  and  presently 
went  in  and  told  Mrs.  Steward,  that  I  was  for  another  Ramble  that 
Day,  being  for  seeing  as  much  of  the  Countrey  as  I  cou'd :  She  ask'd 
me  whether  I  design'd  to  Ramble?  I  told  her  I  design'd  for  Glou- 
cester: 'O,'  says  she  straight,  'i  have  a  Kinswoman  lives  there,  I 
want  to  see,  and  therefore  Cousin  Comfort  and  my  self  will  go  along 
with  you.'  I  readily  accepted  of  her  Kind  offer,  it  being  all  I  wanted  ; 
but  Mr.  Steward,  by  reason  of  some  Business  he  had  before  appointed 
on  that  Day,  cou'd  not  go  with  us,  but  sent  his  Chief  est  Man,  with 
one  of  his  best  Horses,  to  wait  upon  his  Wife. 

The  Way  we  rid  was  very  pleasant ;  for  there  the  lofty  Trees 
with  their  proud  Spreading  Tops,  made  a  refreshing  Shade,  and  kept 
us  from  the  Suns  too  Officious  Kindness.     Besides  the  constant  Pros- 


JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686.  43 

pect  of  the  Sea  on  our  right  hand,  brought  us  such  cool  refreshing 
Breezes  thence,  as  made  our  Journey  extream  delightful,  tho'  the  Sun 
shin'd  very  hot :  .  .  . 

We  were  now'come  to  Gloucester,  which  is  a  pretty  little  Town. 
Here  it  was  that  the  Massachusets  Colony  first  set  down,  tho'  Salem 
was  the  first  Town  built  in  that  Colony.  Here  is  a  very  fine  Harbour 
for  Ships.  Mrs.  Steward's  kinswoman,  who  was  a  very  obliging 
Country-Widow,  receiv'd  us  very  kindly,  and  made  us  very  welcome. 
While  Mrs.  Steward  and  Mrs.  Comfort  were  talking  with  their  kins- 
woman, my  self  and  Mr.  Steward's  Man  took  a  walk  about  the  Town 
and  went  down  to  see  the  Harbour. 

...  So  returning  to  the  House  again,  we  found  Mrs.  Steward  and 
Mrs.  Comfort  waiting  for  us  to  take  Horse ;  which  (after-taking  my 
Leave  of  the  Widow,  and  thanking  her  for  our  kind  Entertainment) 
we  quickly  did,  and  came  back  in  very  good  time  to  Ipswich,  where 
Mr.  Steward  had  taken  care  to  have  a  good  Supper  ready  for  us. 

The  next  morning,  I  was  Returning  to  Boston,  but  Mr.  Steward 
was  very  solicitous  to  have  me  stay  that  day,  and  go  with  him  to 
Wanasquam,*  and  Indian  Town,  where  he  had  some  business :  I 
confess  he  hit  me  in  the  right  Vein,  for  I  lov'd  Rambling  dearly,  and 
knew  not  how  to  deny  him  ;  and  therefore  was  easily  perswaded  to 
go  with  him.  Having  refresh'd  our  selves  before  we  went,  by  eating 
a  good  Breakfast,  we  began  our  Ramble,  and  had  rid  almost  half  the 
way  to  Wanasquam,  when  on  the  Road  we  met  an  Indian  Woman, 
with  her  face  all  over  black'd  with  soot,  having  a  very  sorrowful  and 
rueful  sort  of  Countenance;  and  quickly  after,  two  or  three  Indian 
Men  in  the  same  black  and  sorrowful  Condition,  that  had  I  been  alone, 
it  wou'd  have  frightened  me.  But  having  Mr.  Steward  with  me,  I 
was  well  enough  :  Indeed  they  all  pass'd  by  us  very  civilly,  saying 
only  Ascowequassum,  which  is  in  English  Good  morrow  to  you. 

Mr.  Steward  ask'd  me  if  I  had  ever  seen  any  of  those  blackfac'd 
Indians  before?  I  told  him  No,  and  ask'd  him  what  the  meaning  of 
it  was?  He  told  me,  They  had  had  some  Relation  very  lately  dead ; 
and  that  the  Blacking  of  their  Faces,  was  equivalent  to  the  Englishes 
going  into  Mourning  for  their  Relations;  and  ask'd  me  whether  I  had 
♦Annisquam,  near  Gloucester? 


44  JOHN  DUNTON  IN   1686. 

ever  seen  an  Indian  Burial?  I  told  him  No,  nor  English  neither,  in 
New-England,  for  none  had  dy'd  that  I  remember'd,  since  I  came  in- 
to the  Country. 

******** 

But  the  End  of  his  Story  having  brought  us  to  the  beginning  of 
Wanasquam,  put  an  End  to  our  Discourse ;  It  is  a  very  sorry  sort  of 
a  Town,  but  better  to  come  at  by  Land  than  by  Water:  For  it  is  a 
dangerous  place  to  sail  by,  especially  in  stormy  weather,  by  reason 
of  the  many  Rocks  and  foaming  Breakers  all  about  it.  We  saw  sev- 
eral other  mourning  Indians  in  that  Town;  and  upon  Enquiry  found 
that  one  of  the  chief  Indians  in  the  Town  was  lately  dead  and  buried. 
There  was  nothing  else  remarkable  to  be  seen  in  the  Town,  and 
therefore  as  soon  as  Mr.  Steward  had  done  his  business,  we  return'd 
back  to  Ipswich.  And  early  the  next  morning,  havin  t  paid  our  hearty 
and  repeated  thanks  to  Mr.  Steward  and  his  Charming  Wife,  for  the 
Noble  Entertainment  we  had  receiv'd  from  them,  my  self  and  Mrs. 
Comfort  took  our  leaves,  and  made  the  best  of  our  way  for  Boston, 
where  we  arriv'd  according  to  our  Promise,  to  the  great  satisfaction 
of  my  good  Landlord  and  his  Wife:  Mrs.  Comfort  being  no  less 
pleas'd  with  the  pleasure  of  her  Journey,  than  I  was  for  her  good 
Company. 


EDWARD  WARD  IN  1699. 

EDWARD  Ward  was  born  in  Oxfordshire,  England,  in  1667  and 
after  visiting  Jamaica  and  New  England  became  a  taverner 
in  London.  His  tavern  and  punch  shop  was  located  next  door 
to  Gray's  Inn  and  was  known  as  "The  King's  Arms."-  He  began  to 
publish  pamphlets  in  1691  and  at  his  death  in  1731  had  produced  over 
one  hundred  among  them  being  an  account  of  his  visit  to  Boston,  a 
folio  tract  of  sixteen  pages  published  with  the  following  title : — A 
Trip  to  New-England  with  a  character  of  the  Country  and  People.  .  .  . 
London,  1699. 

They  have  a  Charter  for  a  Fair  at  Salem,  but  it  Begins,  like  Inger- 
stone  Market,  half  an  Hour  after  Eleven  a  Clock,  ^nd  Ends  half  an 
Hour  before  Twelve :  For  I  never  see  any  thing  in  it  but  by  great 
Accident,  and  those  were  Pumkins,  which  were  the  chief  Fruit  that 
supported  the  English  at  their  first  settling  in  these  parts.  But  now 
they  enjoy  plenty  of  good  Provisions,  Fish,  Flesh  and  Fowl,  and  are 
become  as  great  Epicures,  as  ever  Din'd  at  Pontack's  ordinary. 

Lobsters  and  Cod-fish  are  held  in  such  disdain,  by  reason  of  their 
Plenty,  'tis  as  Scandalous  for  a  poor  Man  in  Boston  to  carry  one 
through  the  streets,  as  'tis  for  an  Alderman  in  the  City  of  London, 
to  be  seen  walking  with  a  Groatsworth  of  Fresh- Herrings,  from  Bill- 
ings-Gate to  his  own  House. 

There  were  formerly  amongst  them  (as  they  themselves  Report) 
abundance  of  Witches,  and  indeed  I  know  not,  but  there  may  be  as 
many  now,  for  the  men  look  still  as  if  they  were  Hag-ridden ;  and 
every  Stranger,  that  comes  into  the  Country,  shall  find  they  will  Deal 
with  him  to  this  Day,  as  if  the  Devil  were  in  'em. 

Witchcraft  they  punish'd  with  Death,  till  they  had  Hang'd  the  best 
People  in  the  Country ;  and  Convicted  the  Culprit  upon  a  single  Evi- 
dence: So  that  any  prejudic'd  person,  who  bore  Malice  against  a 
neighbour,  had  an  easie  method  of  removing  their  Adversary.  But 
since,  upon  better  consideration,  they  have  mitigated  the  severity  of 
that  unreasonable  Law,  there  has  not  been  one  accused  of  Witchcraft, 
in  the  whole  Country. 

(45) 


THOMAS  STORY  IN  1699  AND  1704. 

THOMAS  Story  was  an  itinerant  Quaker  preacher  who  came  over 
from  England  in  1697  and  between  that  year  and  1708  visited 
all  the  colonies  from  New  Hampshire  to  Carolina.  The  descrip- 
tion of  his  travels  and  labors  in  America  occupies  nearly  three  hun- 
dred pages  of  his  "Journal"  which  is  the  largest  book  of  travel  in 
what  is  now  the  United  States,  up  to  the  year  1708.  He  is  particu- 
larly racy  about  the  laws  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts.  His 
book  was  published  under  the  following  title: — Journal  of  the  Life  of 
Thomas  Story :  Containing  an  Account  of  .  .  .  his  Embracing  the  Prin- 
ciples of  Truth  as  held  by,  the  People  called  Quakers — His  Travels  in 
America  ...     Newcastle  upon  Tyne,  1747. 

On  the  Second  Day  [July  1699]  we  went  to  Lynn;  where,  hearing 
of  a  Meeting  appointed  by  our  Friend  Juq]adiah  Allen,  abou^t  two 
Miles  thence,  we  went  to  it ;  and  lodged  that  night  with  our  Friend 
Richard  Estis,  at  Lynn :  and  had  a  Meeting  the  next  Day  after  at 
Salem;  and,  that  Night,  lodged  with  our  Friend  Mathew  Estis;  and 
proceeded  next  Day  to  Hampton,  .  .  .  The  next  Day  we  had  a  Meet- 
ing at  Salisbury:  and  there  having  been  a  Report,  that  the  minister 
of  the  Place,  one  Major  Pike,  and  one  Joseph  Ring  (all  great  Opposers) 
intended  to  be  there,  it  was  very  great :  yet  none  of  them  came  but 
Ring:  who  did  not  oppose,  but  slunk  off  towards  the  Conclusion :  and 
the  meeting  was  held,  and  concluded  in  Peace,  and  the  blessed  Truth 
was  over  all,  ...  On  the  26th,  I  went  towards  Hampton,  accom- 
panied by  my  kind  friend  Samuel  Collins,  of  Lynn;  and,  as  we  were 
near  Ipswich,  one  of  his  acquaintance,  not  a  Friend,  overtook,  and  in- 
vited us  to  his  House  ;  where,  Meat  being  set  before  us,  I  was  con- 
cerned in  Prayer  before  we  ate,  and  they  were  well  affected  with  it. 
-.,  .  .  The  next  day  had  a  meeting  at  the  House  of  Joseph  Paisley,  in 
Haverhill:    It  was  not  large,  by  reason  of  the  Throng  of  Harvest.  .  .  . 

That  Afternoon  (May  3,  1704]  we  went  to  Lynn  with  Samuel  Col- 
lins: where  we  staid  that  Night  and  the  next  Day;  and  on  the  Sev- 
enth of  the  Week,  the  Fishermen  being  usually  more  at  home  on  that 

(46) 


THOMAS  STORY   IN   1699  AND   1704.  47 

Day  than  any  other  of  the  Week-days,  we  had  a  Meeting  at  Marble- 
Head  ;  where  there  is  not  a  Friend :  The  Meeting  was  pretty  large, 
and  the  People  sober.  The  Creation  of  Man,  his  first  State  of  Inno- 
cence, his  Fall,  present  State  of  Nature,  and  Restoration  by  Christ 
the  Second  Adam,  were  Subjects  of  the  Testimony :  and  the  divine 
Truth  the  good  Dominion  over  the  People  ;  who,  after  the  Meeting, 
were  loving,  and  behaved  rather  with  awful  Respect  than  light  chear- 
fulness,  or  Familarity :  and.  that  Evening  we  returned  to  Lynn,  .  .  . 
I  remained  at  the  House  of  our  Friend  Samuel  Collins. 

On  the  7th  of  the  Month,  being  the  Third  of  the  Week,  we  were 
at  a  marriage  at  Salem,  which  had  been  delayed  sometime  on  purpose ; 
but  the  Day  proving  very  rainy  and  stormy,  the  meeting  was  not  so 
large  as  otherwise  it  might  have  been ;  but  several  of  the  People,  of 
both  Sexes,  being  there,  were  generally  sober,  and  some  broken  in 
Heart. 

At  Salem  I  remained  until  the  9th :  and,  being  the  Day  of  their 
Monthly  Meeting,  it  was  large;  several  of  the  People  being  there, 
were  well  satisfied  with  the  Testimony  of  Truth  therein  :  and  Lydia 
Norton,  Mary  Dow,  Esther  Palmer,  and  Susannah  Freeborn,  all  living 
Ministers,  came  to  that  Meeting  :  The  next  Day  we  had  a  Meeting 
at  Ipswich,  where  there  were  no  Friends :  It  was  indifferent  large, 
several  of  the  People  tendered,  and  generally  satisfied :  some  of  them 
giving  particular  Demonstrations  of  it.  ...  that  Afternoon  we  went 
forward  to  Newbury ;  and,  Night  coming  on,  I  would  have  tarried  there 
till  the  Morning,  but  there  was  no  Provender  to  be  had  for  my  Horse 
so  that  I  went  over  the  great  River  with  some  Salisbury  Friends,  who 
had  been  at  the  Meeting;  and  we  went  together  to. our  Friend  Henry 
Dow's,  and  lodged  there,  though  it  was  in  the  Time  of  War,  and  not 
under  the  Protection  of  any  Garrison.  And  several  Persons  having 
been  killed  a  little  before  by  the  Indians,  who  were  for  the  French 
against  the  English,  I  found  the  People  in  those  Parts  under  great 
Fear  and  Danger;  and  the  Weight  of  their  condition  and  Circum- 
stances came  heavy  upon  me. 

The  11th  I  rested  there  ;  and,  in  the  Morning,  went  alone  up  a  Hill, 
not  far  from  the  House,  and  stood  upon  a  Stump  of  a  Tree,  where  I 
could  see  to  a  Garrison,  some  Distance  of ;  and  thought,  in  the  mean 


48  THOMAS  STORY   IN   1699   AND   1704. 

time,  that  if  any  Indians  were  in  Ambush  there,  I  might  be  a  fair 
mark  for  them  to  shoot  at;  upon  which  I  retired  from  thence  and 
descended  the  Hill,  and,  near  the  Foot  of  it,  sat  down  under  the  side 
of  a  Fence ;  where  my  mind  was  sensibly  filled  with  divine  Goodness, 
which  staid  me  there  for  some  time;  and,  when  I  returned,  I  found 
the  Friends  had  been  a  little  thoughtful  where  I  could  be,  and  that  I 
staid  so  long;  and  when  I  told  them  I  had  been  on  the  Top  of  the 
same  Hill,  they  informed  me,  that  was  the  Place  where  the  sculking 
Indians  sometimes  came,  to  spy  for  Advantages  against  the  People, 
especially  against  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Garrison,  if  they  could  see 
any  of  them  come  out  any  Distance  from  it,  as  a  Prey  unto  them  who 
thirsted  for  their  Blood. 

The  same  Day  Henry  Dow  gave  notice  in  the  Neighbourhood  of  my 
being  come,  of  the  Meeting  to  be  next  Day  at  the  House  of  Thomas 
Nichols,  in  the  upper  Part  of  the  Town.  It  was  a  tender  Meeting, 
the  minds  of  the  People  being  low  for  fear  of  the  Indians,  their  cruel 
Enemies,  and  by  reason  of  the  great  Distress  many  were  in  otherwise 
on  that  Occasion.  It  was  a  dismal  Time  indeed  in  thoseParts;  for 
no  man  knew,  in  an  ordinary  Way,  when  the  Sun  set  mat  ever  it 
would  arise  upon  him  more ;  or,  lying  down  to  sleep,  but  his  first 
waking  might  be  in  Eternity,  by  a  Salutation  in  the  Face  with  a 
Hatchet,  or  a  Bullet  from  the  Gun  of  a  merciless  Savage ;  who,  from 
Wrongs  received,  as  they  too  justly  say,  from  the  Professors  of  Christ 
in  New-England,  are  to  this  Day  enraged,  as  Bears  bereaved  of  their 
Cubs,  sparing  neither  age  nor  sex:  Nor  are  they  capable  of- any  In- 
treaty,  but,  on  the  contrary,  by  the  Examples  set  them  in  the  Destruc- 
tion of  their  Ancestors,  by  the  pretended  Massachusets  christians, 
promising  Life  and  Friendship,  they  frequently  murder  their  Captives 
in  cold  Blood ;  roasting  some  alive  in  Times  of  their  Triumph  and 
Merriment  as  Objects  of  their  Revenge,  Laughter  and  Scorn. 

The  People  in  those  Parts,  at  this  Time,  were  generally  in  Garrisons 
in  the  Night-time;  and  some  professing  Truth  also  went  into  the 
same  with  their  Guns,  and  some  without  them ;  But  the  faithful  and 
true,  trusting  in  the  Lord,  neither  used  Gun  nor  Garrison,  Sword, 
Buckler,  nor  Spear ;  the  Lord  alone  being  their  strong  Tower,  .  .  . 
and  that  Night  I  lodged  with  Thomas  Nichols. 


THOMAS  STORY   IN   1699  AND   1704.  49 

On  the  13th  we  had  a  Meeting  at  Salisbury:  where  there  was  a 
Garrison  in  some  Part  of  the  Town,  (for  the  People  garrisoned  any 
convenient  House,  in  Town  or  Country,  they  thought  most  proper 
for  a  common  Good  and  safety,  as  they  reckon'd)  but  I  had  not  Lib- 
erty in  myself  to  lodge  near  the  Garrison  that  Night ;  but,  after 
some  Dispute  with  a  Townsman,  Brother-in-law  to  a  Priest,  returned, 
late  in  the  Evening,  to  Henry  Bow's,  a  place  of  as  much  seeming 
Danger  as  any,  being  within  Pistol-shot  of  a  great  Swamp,  and  thicket, 
where  Indians  formerly  inhabited,  and  there  I  lodged  ;  where  there  was 
neither  Gun  nor  Sword,  nor  any  Weapon  of  war,  but  Truth,  Faith, 
the  Fear  of  God,  and  Love,  in  a  humble  and  resigned  mind ;  and  there 
I  rested  with  consolation. 

And  here  T  think  fit  to  remark  a  particular  Passage,  viz.  The 
Mother  of  Henry  Dow's  wife,  being  a  Friend  of  blameless  Life,  and 
living  in  this  same  House  with  them,  let  in  Reasonings  against  their 
continuing  in  a  place  of  so  much  apparent  Danger,  and  frequently 
urged  them  to  remove  into  the  Town,  where  the  Garrison  was,  that 
they  might  lodge  there  in  the  night  for  moral  Safety,  as/fnany  others, 
and  some  Friends  did ;  which  her  daughter  could  never  be  free  to  do, 
believing,  that  if  they  should  let  in  any  slavish  Fear,  or  distrust  in 
the  Arm  and  Protection  of  the  Lord,  some  very  hard  thing  would 
befal  them ;  till  at  length  her  mother  said  to  her,  That  if  she  could 
say  she  had  the  mind  of  the  Lord  against  it,  (being  a  minister,  though 
young)  she  would  rest  satisfied ;  but  nothing  else  than  that  could 
balance  so  rational  Fears  in  so  obvious  Danger:  But  the  young 
Woman,  being  modest,  cautious,  and  prudent,  durst  not  assume  pos- 
itively to  place  her  Aversion  to  their  Removal  so  high;  so  at  length 
she  and  her  Husband  complied  with  the  mother,  and  they  removed 
to  the  Town,  to  a  House  near  the  Garrison ;  where  the  young  Wom- 
an was  constantly  troubled  with  frightful  surprizing  Fears  of  the 
Indians:  though,  while  at  the  House  by  the  Swamp,  she  was  free, 
from  it,  and  quiet. 

But  the  Mother,  having  left  some  small  Things  in  the  House  by 
the  swamp,  was  going  early  in  the  Morning  to  fetch  them,  and,  by- 
some  Indians  in  Ambush  near  the  Town  in  her  way,  was  killed;  and 
the  same  morning,  a  young  man,    a  Friend,  and  Tanner   by  Trade, 


50  THOMAS  STORY  IN   1699  AND   1704. 

going  from  the  Town  to  his  work,  with  a  Gun  in  his  Hand,  and  an- 
other with  him  without  any,  the  Indians  shot  him  who  had  the  Gun, 
but  hurt  not  the  other;  and  when  they  knew  the  young  man  they 
had  killed  was  a  Friend,  they  seemed  sorry  for  it,  but  blamed  him  for 
carrying  a  Gun :  For  they  knew  the  Quakers  would  not  fight,  nor 
do  them  any  Harm  ;  and  therefore,  by  carrying  a  Gun,  they  took  him 
for  an  Enemy. 

And  the  Garrison  and  Neighbourhood,  being  alarmed  by  the  Guns 
of  the  Indians,  some  Inhabitants  of  some  few  Houses  near  made  such 
precipitate  Haste  thither,  that  they  left  a  little  Boy  behind  them, 
whose  Brains  the.  Indians  dashed  out  against  a  Plough,  and  made 
Prey  of  as  many  Goods  as  they  could  carry  with  them. 

And,  when  the  Town  was  alarmed,  the  young  woman  concluded 
her  mother  was  slain,  (but  it  was  not  by  shot,  but  a  Blow  on  the 
Head)  but  did  not  go  into  the  Garrison,  but  took  one  of  her  children 
in  each  Hand,  and  went  with  them  into  a  swamp,  or  thicket,  full  of 
Reeds,  near  the  Place ;  where  all  her  tormenting  Fear  left  her,  and 
she  was  then  greatly  comforted  and  strengthened  in  the  Presence  of 
the  Lord,  and  confirmed  in  her  thoughts,  that  they  should  not  have 
left  their  House  for  her  mother's  Fears,  though  reasonable-^  human 
View,  seeing  that  consequence  had  attended ;  after  which  she  returned 
to  her  House  by  the  Garrison  with  her  children. 

The  loss  of  the  mother  was  much  lamented  by  the  Son  and  Daugh- 
ter, and  others;  but,  as  soon  as  her  body  was  interred,  they  went 
back  with  their  little  children  to  the  same  Place  by  the  Swamp  ; 
where  I  lodged  with  them  when  they  gave  me  this  Relation. 

On  the  14th  of  the  Third  month,  we  had  a  Meeting  at  an  Inn  in 
Newbury:  There  were  not  many  Friends  there/  but  probably  may  be 
in  due  time;  for  the  Meeting  was  very  large,  and  several  Persons 
much  broken  under  the  testimony  of  the  Truth.  The  Meeting  con- 
tinuing long,  and  the  River  being  between  that  Place  and  Salisbury, 
I  went  late  that  Night  with  Henry  Doiv  and  his  Wife,  and  several 
Friends.  .  .  . 

That  Night  [May  28th]  I  lodged  again  at  Henry  Dow's;  and  on  the 
29th,  I  was  at  another  appointed  Meeting  as  Salisbury;  which  was 
not  large,  but  good  and  comfortable. 


THOMAS  STORY   IN   1699  AND   1704.  51 

On  the  30th  I  was  at  their  Week-day  meeting  at  Jamaica;  which 
was  pretty  large,  .  ,  . 

On  the  1st  of  the  Fourth  Month  we  had  a  Meeting  at  Henry  Dow's; 
which  was  also  comfortable  and  edifying,  and  several  of  the  People 
much  tendered ;  But  this  Meeting  also  was  hurt  in  the  Beginning  of 
it,  by  a  forward  Person,  who  prayed  a  long  Sermon  to  the  Almighty, 
with  many  Accusations  in  it  against  the  People  and  their  Ways.  .  .  . 

On  the  2d,  being  the  Seventh  of  the  Week,  we  went  up  to  Haverell 
from  Salisbury;  and,  the  next  Day,  had  a  Meeting  there;  which,  be- 
ing near  the  Presbyterian  Meeting-house,  several  of  them  came  to  us 
in  the  Time  between  their  Forenoon  and  Afternoon  meetings,  and 
some  of  them  were  affected  and  tendered,  and  others  very  sober  and 
attentive  to  what  was  delivered ;  who,  desired  by  some  of  the  ruder 
sort  of  their  own  Profession  to  leave  us,  they  would  not ;  and  then 
the  others  endeavoured  to  have  them  away  by  Force ;  But  the  Lord 
gave  us  a  good  Meeting  notwithstanding  this  Treatment :  .  .  .  That 
Night  I  went  to  Jamaica,  and  lodged  with  Thomas  Nichols,  parting 
with  some  Dover  Friends  in  the  Road  near  that  Place. 

After  this  Meeting  Jacob  Moral  of  Salisbury  informed  me,  that  he 
had  been  with  several  Persons  in  that  Town,  in  order  to  have  a  Meet- 
ing among  them,  but  they  generally  refused ;  the  old  Stock  of  Perse- 
cutors, still  ruling  there,  being  much  against  it;  but  the  younger 
People  were,  for  the  most  part,  for  it :  And  that  at  last  he  had  gone 
to  one  Major  Pike,  (an  ancient  man  who  had  been  very  contentious, 
so  that  every  mans  Hand  had  been  against  him,  and  he  against  every 
Man)  and  desired  his  Consent  that  we  might  have  a  Meeting  in  their 
Meeting-house,  to  which  the  Major  assented ;  and  said  also,  "That 
if  we  could  not  have  their  Meeting-house  to  meet  at  once,  we  should 
have  his  House;"  And  accordingly  Jacob  Moral  had  given  notice  of 
a  Meeting  to  be  there  the  next  Day. 

Both  Friends  and  others  went  to  the  Place  about  the  Tenth  Hour 
next  morning,  and  the  Major  seemed  very  open  and  free ;  and  Seats 
being  ranged,  and  many  People  set  down,  all  of  a  sudden,  and  with- 
out any  Provocation,  save  from  the  Evil  One  in  himself,  the  Major 
began  to  be  very  turbulent  and  abusive,  saying,  "Friends,  if  I  may  call 
you  so,  what  is  your  business  here?     What  means  all  this  Concourse 


52  THOMAS   STORY   IN    1699   AND    1704. 

of  People  ?"  To  which  Jacob  Moral  answered,  "We  have  come  here 
to  have  a  Meeting,  according  to  the  Liberty  thou  hast  given  us." 
Then  said  he,  "You  told  me  of  a  Man  that  had  a  Message  from  Heaven 
to  the  People  ;  which,  if  he  hath,  let  him  say  on  :  but,  for  my  Part, 
I  did  not  expect  such  a  multitude,  neither  did  I  intend  any  such  Leave 
to  such  a  People  as  ye  are."  Then  he  gave  us  much  ill  and  abusive 
Language,  saying,  "We  were  led  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Devil."  At  length 
I  stood  up  and  told  him,  "That  I  was  the  Person  intended  in  what  had 
been  said."  .  .  .  Then  Jacob  Moral  cleared  the  matter,  affirming  in 
the  audience  of  the  People,  "That  he  never  said  any  thing  of  a  Message 
from  Heaven,  but  only  that  a  travelling  Friend,  in  the  Love  of  God, 
had  a  mind  to  see  them  in  a  Meeting ;  which  the  Major  had  given 
Leave  should  be  there  in  his  House." 

Notwithstanding  this,  the  Major  persisted  in  his  Abuses,  alledging 
that  Scripture  against  us,  and  applying  it  unduly,  Try  Hie  Spirits,  be- 
lieve not  every  Spirit,  &c.  I  asked  him,  .  .  .  This  made  the  old  Per- 
secutor mad  with  Rage  for  a  time,  and  he  began  to  rub  up  his  old 
rusty  Tools  of  Persecution,  asking  me  whence  I  came  ?  and  threatened 
to  order  me  into  Custody:  .  .  .  And  so  we  went  out,  leaving  him 
foaming  and  silent  in  his  chair. 

I  went  then  immediately  into  the  Street ;  where,  seeing  a  Parcel  of 
Logs  of  wood  near  the  Side  of  a  House,  I  werrtrm  and  asked  the  woman 
of  the  House  (the  Goodman  being  absent)  Leave  to  set  the  Logs  in 
order,  and  sit  upon  them;  and  she  was  very  willing,  and  said,  "The 
Street  is  free  for  all;  and  as  for  the  Logs  ye  cannot  hurt  them,  use 
them  at  Pleasure,"  And,  besides  these,  we  procured  some  Deal-boards, 
and  other  things  fit  for  seats,  and  sat  down  in  the  open  Street  by  the 
House-side;  which  proved  a  far  more  convenient  Place  than  the  Ma- 
jor's Llouse,  for  a  multitude  of  People  came  thither ;  and  though  some 
were  very  light,  airy  and  rude,  most  of  them  were  sober,  and  several 
tender,  I  had  a  large  time  in  Testimony  among  them.  .  .  .  Dur- 
ing all  this  Time  the  People  were  generally  attentive,  and  seemingly 
pleased ;  but  just  at  the  Close  of  the  matter,  I  was  attacked,  all  of  a 
sudden,  by  a  jolly,  brisk  Person,  who  brake  into  the  Crowd  behind 
me  on  Horseback,  and,  by  his  Garb,  look'd  like  a  Pastor  of  the  People, 
(and,  upon  Enquiry  afterwards,  I  found  he  was  so)  whose  first  Salu- 


THOMAS  STORY   IN   1699  AND   1704.  53 

tation  was  after  this  Manner :  "Are  you  not  ashamed  thus  to  delude 
the  People,  imposing  upon  them  false  Glosses  on  the  Scripture?  I 
am  a  Stranger  on  the  Road,  and  drawing  near  this  multitude  to  know 
the  Occasion  of  it,  cannot  but  appear  in  defence  of  Truth."  .  .  . 
Then  he,  wheeling  his  Horse  about,  said,  "He  could  stay  no  longer:" 
and,  in  turning  of  his  Horse,  he  prov'd  resty,  and  ran  back  upon  a 
Log,  and  his  hinder  Parts  fell  down,  (which  some  would  have  a  Judg- 
ment upon  him :)  but  the  Priest  being  a  brisk  nimble  Man/kept  upon 
his  Back,  and  had  no  Harm,  but  rode  hastily  out  of  the  crowd,  and 
went  off.  ...  It  was  now  near  Night,  and  began  to  rain  :  and,  with 
some  other  Friends,  I  took  Horse  and  rode  to  Henry  Doiv's.  [On  the 
5th  of  June,  Thomas  Story  went  to  Haverhill  where  he  visited  the 
minister,  Rev.  Benjamin  Rolfe,  and  engaged  in  a  theological  contro- 
versy which  he  records  in  much  detail.  He  describes  the  "priest"  as 
looking  very  surly,  haughty  and  illnatured  and  mentions  a  fast  re- 
cently appointed  because  of  the  cold  and  backward  Spring  season, 
the  danger  of  Indian  attack,  "several  of  the  Inhabitants  of  that  Town 
having  been  some  time  before  killed,  and  others  (about  nineteen  in 
all)  taken  captives  by  those  Savages,"  and  lastly,  against  the  prevail- 
ing of  the  Quakers,  several  of  his  congregation  having  left  him  not 
long  before.  "But  mark  the  end. of  this  ignorant  and  envious  man  : 
For  (as  I  have  been  assured  since)  there  cSrne  a  Party  of  Indians  to 
that  Town,  and  before  the  dawning  of  the  Day,  placing  themselves 
two  at  least  at  each  Door  of  every  House,  and  knocking  softly  as  if 
they  had  been  Neighbours,  as  soon  as  any  open'd  the  Doors,  the 
Indians  rushed  in  and  killed  the  first  they  met  with  their  Hatchets, 
and  then  the  rest,  and  many  of  them  in  their  Beds :  and  this  Teacher 
happening  to  be  one  who  open'd  his  Door  at  this  Time,  an  Indian 
killed  him  with  a  Hatchet ;  at  which  I  did  not  rejoice  when  I  was  in- 
formed of  it,  though  I  could  not  but  remember  his  Fast  and  Prayers." 
From  Haverhill,  Thomas  Story  went  to  Salem,  Marble-Head  and  Lynn. 
At  Salem  he  heard  that  the  local  "priest"  had  been  "railing  against 
Truth  and  us  in  his  preachment ;  whereby  he  had  offended  several 
of  the  more  sober  sort  of  his  Hearers."  At  Cambridge,  a  few  days 
later,  he  held  a  meeting  under  an  oak  before  the  College  buildings 
at  which  Samuel  Gaskin  of  Salem,  "stood  up  first."] 


JOHN  HIGGINSON  IN  1700. 

JOHN  Higginson  lived  in  Salem  where  he  was  "a  considerable 
merchant"  and  held  many  public  offices.  Three  times  deputy 
from  Salem  to  the  General  Court,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Governor's  Council  in  1700  and  continued  in  that  office,  until  his  death 
in  1719.  He  also  was  a  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and 
Colonel  of  the  local  troop.  The  following  account  of  the  com- 
mercial conditions  in  New  England  in  1700  is  abstracted  from  a  letter 
that  he  wrote  on  August  29,  1700,  to  his  brother  Nathaniel  and  which 
was  printed  in  the  Collections  of.  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society, 
3d  Series,  Volume  VII  (1838).  Nathaniel  Higginson  was  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1670  and  four  years  later  went  to  England. 
In  1683,  he  went  to  Madras,  in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company 
where,  in  1692,  became  Governor. 

...  I  now  come  to  answer  your  question  :  1st,  you  say  "may  a 
stock  of  5  or  10  thousand  pounds  be  employed  ?"  I  answer,  the  trade 
of  New  England  is  large.  We  trade  to  all  parts  where  the  law  doth 
not  prohibit.  Our  principal  commodities  are  dry  merchandise,  cod- 
fish fit  for  the  markets  of  Spaine,  Portugal,  the  Straits,  also  refuse 
dry  fish,  mackerel,  lumber,  horses  and  provision  for  the  West  Indies ; 
the  effects  whereof  mostly  return  for  England.  The  returnes  made 
directly  hence  for  England,  are  chiefly  sugar,  molasses,  cotton-wool, 
logwood  and  brazilla-wood ;  for  which,  we  are  beholden  to  the  West 
Indies.  Of  our  owne  produce,  we  have  a  considerable  quantity  of 
whale  and  other  fish-oyles,  whale  bone,  furrs,  deer,  elk  and  bear  skins ; 
which  are  usually  sent  for  England.  We  have  also  silver,  lead,  and 
copper  mines;  but,  for  want  of  artists,  there  has  been  little  got  out 
of  them.     In  all  or  any  of  which,  a  man  may  employ  his  money. 

2d.  "Whether  2  ships  can  be  employed  constantly  between  Eng- 
land and  New  England  with  that  stock,  and  of  what  burden  ?"  I  ans- 
wer; 2  ships  may  be  employed  with  the  stock  of  a  100  tons  or  more; 
but  here  is  much  shipping,  freight  very  low,  and  it  is  a  query  wheth- 
er you  had  not  better  ship  upon  freight,  than  either  hire  or  owne 

(54) 


JOHN    HIGGINSON    IN   1700.  55 

vessels.     The  factor  here  may  always  have  freight  when  he  can  pro- 
vide it. 

3d.  "How  many  trips  can  one  ship  make,  in  one  year,  between 
England  and  New  England,  and  what  are  the  proper  seasons  of  voy- 
aging ?"  I  answer,  It  is  possible  for  a  ship  to  make  two  trips  in  a 
year,  but  it  is  seldom  done.  The  season  for  voyaging  is  almost  all 
the  year;  the  dead  of  winter  most  difficult  to  come  on  this  coast ;  the 
best  time  between  April  and  November. 

4th.  "How  many  Barbadoes,  Jamaica,  Virginia,  and  other  places 
in  the  West  Indies  or  in  Europe,  be  made  use  of  in  carrying  on  a  trade 
between  England  and  New  England  ?  Please  to  name  the  corres- 
pondent whom  you  have  employed,  or  known,  in  any  such  place."  I 
answer,  that  Barbadoes,  Jamaica,  Virginia,  and  other  places  in  the 
West  Indies,  are  very  proper  to  be  made  use  of  in  making  returns  for 
England,  of  their  commodities,  the  more  advantageous  than  direct 
from  hence.  For  instance,  molasses  has  been  this  year  at  12d  a  gal- 
lon, besides  the  charge  of  casks,  &c,  in  Barbadoes;  and  much  mo- 
lasses, which  has  been  shipped  of  hence  for  England,  cost  here  2s  a 
gallon;  besides  other  charges  of  commission,  cooperage,  &c.  The 
freight  from  Barbadoes  being  much  the  same  as  from  hence,  I  judge 
it  more  advantageous  to  have  returns  of  that  kind  from  Barbadoes, 
than  from  New  England  ;  sugar  and  cotton  are  much,the  same.  Places 
proper  in  Europe  to  make  returns  to  England  from,  and  are  much 
improved  for  that  end,  from  hence,  are  Bilboa,  Cadiz,  Oporto,  and 
the  Streights ;  where  the  markets  are  variable,  according  to  the  plenty 
or  scarcity  of  the  commodities.  For  correspondents  in  Barbadoes, 
I  have  had  business  with  Mr.  William  Adams  and  his  brother  Conrad 
Adams.  William  served  his  time  in  this  towne  with  Major  Browne ; 
has  now  married  a  good  fortune  in  Barbadoes,  and  understands  busi- 
ness well;  and  is  a  faithful  man.  His  brother  Conrad  lived  some  time 
in  this  towne,  is  now  at  Barbadoes,  a  worthy  man.  If  anything  con- 
siderable should  be  sent  that  way,  it  may  be  best  to  consign  them  in 
partnership  for  France  and  Leward  Islands.  I  know  none  there;  but 
here  is  one  John  Bradstreet,  son  of  Doctor  Samuel  Bradstreet,  about 
24  years  old,  who  served  his  time  with  Moses  Byfield  and  Mico;  who 
has  an  estate  in  Jamaica,  and  is  going  this  fall  to  settle  there,  whom 


56  JOHN    HIGGINSON   IN    1700. 

I  would  commend  to  you,  if  you  have  occasion  to  send  thither.  At 
Jamaica,  are  sugar  and  log-wood  for  returns,  and  other  things,  peices 
of  eight,  &c,  for  Bilboa,  Couzin  Hayler  can  inform  you. 

5th.  "Whether  Salem  or  Boston  be  the  best  place  for  trade?" 
Answer,  Boston,  in  some  respects,  Salem  in  others.  Both  well  im- 
proved, may  do  well. 

6th.  "If  Boston,  whether  you  can  manage  business  at  Boston 
while  you  reside  at  Salem  ?"  For  answer  thereunto,  I  would  propound 
to  your  consideration,  that  I  have  a  son  whose  name  is  Nathaniel, 
now  at  prentice  with  Mr.  Benjamin  Browne,  who  has  given  his  master 
great  satisfaction  in  his  service  ;  is  twenty  one  years  of  age  the  1st 
of  April  next;  and  then  out  of  his  time.  I  intend,  God  willing,  he 
shall  wait  upon  you  by  the  first  ship  after  he  is  out  of  his  time,  and 
hope  he  will  be  very  capable  of  business,  being  bred  up  a  Salem  mer- 
chant, and  went  to  the  Latin  school  till  he  was  fourteen  years  old. 
Now  if  any  business  considerable  should  happen,  I  do  propound  that 
my  son  Nat.,  should  live  at  Boston,  and  manage  a  warehouse  there, 
and  what  goods  may  be  proper  for  our  trade  at  Salem,  I  would  man- 
age here,  and  should  be  often  also  at  Boston,  to  oversee  and  assist 
there;  also  my  eldest  son  John,  whom  I  brought  up  at  home,  is  very 
capable  of  business,  a  very  hopeful  young  man  as  any  in  our  towne, 
sober  and  judicious.  .  .  . 

I  would  further  propound  my  opinion,  that  considering  that  money 
is  of  late  grown  so  exceeding  scarce  amongst  us,  that  the  making  of 
returns  for  England,  by  the  way  of  Barbadoes,  Leeward'  Islands,  Bil- 
boa, Oporto,  Cadiz,  and  Isle  of  Wight,  would  be  more  easy  and  safe 
than  direct  for  England;  and  it's  probable,  more  advantageous;  be- 
cause, money  being  scarce,  and  returns  direct,  difficult  to  be  got, 
debts  must  be  contracted  to  procure  money,  which  will  be  hardly  gol 
in,  whereas,  a  man  may  sell  more  goods,  and  better  get  in  his  debts 
more  speedily  and  certainly ;  for  barter  of  goods  for  those  markets, 
than  direct. 


nr 


REV.  GEORGE  KEITH  IN  1702. 

HIS  is  an  account  of  the  observations  of  a  man  more  interested 
in  religious  doctrines  than  in  the  natural  features  of  the  country 
■^  through  which  he  passed  and  therefore  the  following  abstracts 
have  value  only  as  touching  upon  men  rather  than  things.  George 
Keith  was  born  in  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  and  becoming  a  Quaker  suffered 
confiscation  and  imprisonment.  He  came  to  America  in  1684  and 
became  a  surveyor  in  New  Jersey  and  afterwards  taught  school  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  became  involved  in  disputes  with  his  sect. 
Returning  to  England  he  was  ordained  in  the  Church  of  England, 
and  in  1702  was  sent  to  America  by  the  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.  His  journeyings- were  published  in  a  vol- 
ume under  the  following  title :  A  Journal  of  Travels  from  New-Hamp- 
shire to  Caratuck  on  the  Continent  of  North- America,  London,  1706. 

July  8,  July  9,  Thursday.  I  went  from  Boston  to  Linn,  accom- 
panied with  Mr.  Talbot,  and  the  next  day,  being  the  Quakers  Meeting 
day,  we  visited  there,  having  first  called  at  a  Quaker's  House,  who  was 
of  my  former  acquaintance.  Mr.  Shepherd  the  Minister  of  Linn  did  also 
accompany  us,  but  the  Quakers,  though  many  of  them  had  been 
formerly  Members  of  his  Church,  were  very  abusive  to  him,  as  they 
were  unto  us.  After  some  time  of  silence,  I  stood  up  and  began  to 
speak,  but  they  did  so  interrupt  with  their  Noise  and  Clamour  against 
me,  that  I  could  not  proceed,  though  I  much  entreated  them  to  hear 
me ;  So  I  sat  down  and  heard  their  Speakers  one  after  another  utter 
abundance  of  falsehoods  and  impertinencies  and  gross  perversions  of 
many  Texts  of  the  Holy  Scripture.  After  their  Speakers  had  done, 
they  hasted  to  begone;  I  desired  them  to  stay,  and  I  would  shew 
them  that  they  had  spoke  many  falshoods,  and  perverted  many  places 
of  Scripture,  but  they  would  not  stay  to  hear.  But  many  of  the 
People  staid,  some  of  them  Quakers,  and  others  who  were  not  Quakers 
but  disaffected  to  the  Quakers  Principles.  I  asked  one  of  their  Preach- 
ers before  he  went  away,  seeing  they  Preached  so  much  the  suf- 
ficiency of  the  Light  within  to  Salvation,   (without  any  thing  else)  did 

(57) 


58  ■         REV.  GEORGE  KEITH  IN   1702. 

the  Light  within  teach  him  without  Scripture,  that  our  Blessed  Sav- 
iour was  born  of  a  Virgin,  and  died  for  our  Sins,  etc.  He  replyed, 
If  he  said  it  did,  I  would  not  believe  him,  and  therefore  he  would  not 
answer  me. 

After  their  Speakers  were  gone,  I  went  up  into  the  Speakers  Gallery, 
where  they  used  to  stand  and  Speak,  and  I  did  read  unto  the  People 
that  staid  to  hear  me,  Quakers  and  others,  many  Quotations  out  of 
Edw.  Burroughs's  Folio  Book,  detecting  his  vile  Errors,  who  yet  was 
one  of  their  chief  Authors,  particularly  in  Page  150,  151.  where  he 
renders  it  the  Doctrine  of  Salvation  that's  only  necessary  to  be  preached, 
viz.  Christ  within,  and  that  he  is  a  Deceiver  that  exhorts  People  for  Sal- 
vation to  any  other  thing  than  the  Light  within ;  as  appears  by  his  sev- 
eral Queries  in  the  Pages  cited.  And  where  he  saith,  Page  273,  that 
the  Sufferings  of  the  People  of  God  in  this  Age  (meaning  the  Quakers) 
are  greater  Sufferings,  and  more  Unjust,  than  those  of  Christ  and  the 
Apostles ;  what  was  done  to  Christ,  or  to  the  Apostles,  was  chiefly  done 
by  a  Law,  and  in  great  part  by  the  due  execution  of  a  Law.  But  all  this 
a  noted  Quaker,  whose  name  I  spare  to  mention,  (as  I  generally  in- 
tend to  spare  the  mentioning  of  their  Names)  did  boldly  defend.  But 
another  Quaker  who  stood  by,  confessed  the  last  Passage  in  render- 
ing the  Quakers  Sufferings  greater  and  more  unjust  than  the  Suffer- 
ings of  Christ,  was  not  well  worded,  but  to  excuse  it,  said,  we  must 
not  make  a  Man  an  offender  for  a,  word. 

July  19,  Sunday.  Mr.  Talbot  Preached  at  Salisbury  in  the  Forenoon, 
and  I  Preached  there  in  the  Afternoon,  on  Philip  2,  13,  where  we  had 
a  great  Auditory,  and  well  affected,  as  also  we  had  the  like  at  Hamp- 
ton. The  occasion  of  our  having  so  great  an  Auditory  both  at  Hamp- 
ton and  at  Salisbury  was  this,  as  some  of  them  told  us,  that  they  had 
been  inform'd  concerning  us,  that  We  being  Ministers  of  the  Church  of 
England,  we  would  Preach  down-right  Popery  to  our  Hearers ;  But  (said 
they)  we  came  the  rather  to  hear  you,  to  know  whether  we  could 
hear  any  Popery  Preached  by  you  ;  but  indeed,  (said  they  which  were 
the  most  Judicious,  and  most  Ancient  among  them,)  Praised  be  God 
we  heard  no  Popish  Doctrine  Preached  by  any  of  you,  but  good  sound  Prot- 
estant Doctrine,  the  same  which  we  have  heard  our  Ministers  of  New- 
England  Preach  to  us,    andivhich  to  our  great  comfort  we  have  believed 


REV.   GEORGE  KEITH   IN   1702.  59 

these  Forty  Years  past,  and  we  still  continue  to  believe.  We  replied,  we 
were  very  glad  to  find  that  they  were  of  the  same  Faith  with  the 
Church  of  England,  in  these  great  Fundamentals  of  the  Christian 
Religion.  ... 

July  25,  1702.  We  arrived  at  Salem,  and  had  intended  to  have 
visited  the  Quakers  at  their  Meeting  there,  the  next  Day,  but  we  were 
informed  that  they  had  removed  their  Meeting  for  that  Day  from 
Salem  to  another  Place,  of  which  we  could  have  no  notice,  though  we 
made  enquiry.  ... 

July.  28.  In  our  way  from  Salem  to  Boston,  as  we  stayed  some 
Hours  at  the  Ferry  by  Newberry,  I  had  much  discourse  with  a  sober 
Carpenter  who  was  a  Quaker,  his  Name  was  William  Clement.  "  He 
did  readily  confess  to  the  Fundamentals  of  the  Christian  Faith,  con- 
cerning our  blessed  Saviour ;  but  had  some  dispute  with  me  about 
Baptism,  and  by  the  Discourse  I  had  there  with  him,  seemed  to  be 
much  convinced  that  it  was  his  Duty  to  have  his  Children  Baptized, 
as  he  had  been  himself,  in  Infancy,  and  had  a  Resolution  to  have  it 
done. 


JOHN  OLDMIXON  IN  1708. 

THIS  English  author  is  supposed  to  have  visited  America  but 
some  authorities  incline  to  the  belief  that  his  book  was  com- 
piled by  Herman  Moll,  the  cartographer.  The  dedication,  how- 
ever, is  signed  by  Oldmixon  who  was  the  author  of  many  plays,  poems 
and  historical  and  critical  writings.  He  died  in  London  in  1742.  A 
second  edition  of  his  geographical  work  was  published  in  1741  and 
both  editions  were  translated  and  published  in  Germany.  The  text 
bears  evidence  of  a  certain  amount  of  compilation  from  earlier  printed 
works  and  inaccuracies  appear;  in  fact,  one  critic  says  of  the  book 
that  "it  contains  almost  as  many  errors  as  pages,  and  unsupported 
is  not  to  be  trusted."  It  was  published  in  two  volumes,  under  the 
following  title  :  The  British  Empire  in  America,  Containing  the  His- 
tory of  the  Discovery,  Settlement,  Progress,  and  Present  State  of  the  Brit- 
ish Colonies  on  the  Continent  and  Islands  of  America,  London,  1708. 

Salem  is  the  chief  Town  of  this  County,  situated  on  the  Northern 
Branch  of  the  Charles  River.  Here  is  one  of  the  best  built  churches 
in  the  Country :  but  it  was  put  to  a  very  ill  Use  in  the  Time  of  the 
Witch  Plague,  being  generally  the  place  of  Meeting  for  the  Witch 
Judges,  when  they  began  the  Prosecutions  of  the  poor  Women,  who 
were  put  to  Death  as  witches;  more  were  hang'd  here  than  in  all 
Neiv-England  besides.  It  broke  out  in  the  House  of  the  Minister  here, 
Mr.  Paris,  whose  Daughter  was  a  main  Evidence  against  them,  hav- 
ing been  frequently  under  the  Power  of  Witchcraft,  which  her  Father 
contributed  very  much  to  the  Belief  of.  The  Town  issituated  in  a 
Plain,  between  two  Rivers,  and  has  two  Harbours,  Winter  Harbour  and 
Summer  Harbour.  Here  the  Planters  of  the  Massachitsets  Colony  made 
their  first  Settlement,  and  a  very  good  Trade  is  driven  to  Barbados  and 
the  Sugar  Islands.  It  has  a  Market  every  Wednesday,  and  two  Fairs  in 
the  Year,  the  last  Wednesday  in  May,  and  the  last  Wednesday  in  Septem- 
ber. The  inferior  Court  is  kept  here  the  last  Tuesday  in  June,  and  Decem- 
ber, and  the  superior  the  second  Tuesday  in  November.  Northward  of 
Salem  is  the  high  Promontory  Trabigzando,  now  called  Cape  Ann,  a 

(60) 


JOHN  OLDMIXON   IN   1708.  61 

Place  for  fishing,  and  a  Harbour  for  ships.  A  little  higher  is  Ipswich, 
a  large  Town,  situated  by  the  side  of  a  fine  River.  The  inferior 
Court  is  kept  here  the  last  Tuesday  in  March,  and  the  superior  the 
third  Tuesday  in  May.  Lyn  is  a  Market-Town,  and  I  was  surprised 
to  read  in  Mr.  Neal,  that  there's  hardly  any  Town  in  the  Country 
that  has  a  market ;  for  the  Accounts  we  have  met  with  of  it  name 
many  Towns  with  Markets,  and  the  days  on  which  they  are  kept. 
Lyn  is  situated  at  the  Bottom  of  a  Bay,  near  a  River,  which  on  the 
breaking  up  of  the  Winter,  empties  itself  with  a  rapid  Torrent  into  the 
Sea.  At  the  Mouth  of  the  River  Merrimack  stands  Newbury,  pleas- 
antly situated,  where  Abundance  of  Sturgeon  are  taken,  and  pickled 
after  the  manner  used  in  the  Baltick.  The  Society  for  propagating 
the  Gospel  according  to  the  Church  of  England,  have  a  missionary 
here,  to  whom  they  allow  60/.  a  Year.  If  the  Design  is  to  convert 
the  Indians  to  Christianity,  'tis  very  pious  and  laudable,  if  only  to 
convert  the  Pesbyterian,  the  Society  allowing  them  to  be  already 
Christians,  what  is  wanting  to  their  Salvation  ?  If  it  is  to  foment 
Division  for  indifferent  Matters,  to  support  Bigotry  and  Animosity, 
'tis  a  pretty  long  way  the  Missionary  goes  for  it,  and  I  am  afraid  his 
Errand  is  not  so  necessary  as  a  Mission  among  the  Hurons  and  Iro- 
quois would  be.  On  the  other  side  of  the  Merrimack,  over-against 
Newbury,  is  Salisbury,  where  there  is  a  Ferry ;  the  River  between  the 
two  Towns  being  half  a  Mile  over,  as  broad  as  the  Thames  at  Graves- 
end.  Four  Miles  Southward  of  Salem  is  Marblehead,  where  there  is 
another  Missionary,  who  is  not  of  the  Religion  as  by  Law  establish'd 
in  this  Country.  The  above-mention'd  Society  allow  him  50/.  a  Year. 
Both  these  Allowances  are  very  handsom,  and  much  more  inviting 
than  many  a  Welsh  Curacy,  which,  however,  the  greatest  Part  of  our 
Academists  would  prefer  to  the  New-England  Mission. 

The  Soil  of  Essex  County  is  not  very  fertile  except  it  be  near  the 
Sea  Coast,  where  the  Towns  are  built  for  the  Convenience  of  Fishing. 
The  River  Merrimack,  which  waters  it,  is  barr'd  in  some  Places,  or  it 
would  be  navigable  up  very  high  within  Land. 


REV.  JOHN  BARNARD  IN  1714. 

THIS  description  relates  only  to  one  town — Marblehead,  but  it 
is  so  vivid  that  it  must  not  be  overlooked.  Rev.  John  Barnard 
was  born  in  Boston  in  1681  and  after  assisting  Dr.  Coleman 
of  the  Brattle  Street  Church  and  serving  as  Chaplain  in  the  expedi- 
tions against  Port  Royal  in  1707,  he  preached  as  a  candidate  in  several 
pulpits  and  at  last  become  the  assistant  of  Rev.  Samuel  Cheever  at 
Marblehead  and  there  he  remained  for  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  must 
have  been  a  fine  type  of  the  dignified  old-time  minister  for  in  the  dis- 
course preached  at  his  funeral  it  was  said-— "His  presence  restrained 
every  imprudent  sally  of  youth,  and  when  the  aged  saw  him  they 
arose  and  stood  up."  The  following  is  reprinted  from  an  autobio- 
graphical account  printed  in  Collections  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society,  3d  Series,  Volume  V.  (1836) 

When  I  first  came,  [in  1714]  there  were  two  companies  of  poor, 
smoke-dried,  rude,  ill-clothed  men,  trained  to  no  military  discipline 
but  that  of  "whipping  the  snake,"  as  they  called  it ;  whereas  now, 
[in  1766]  and  for  years  past,  we  are  a  distinct  regiment,  consisting 
of  seven  full  companies,  well  clad,  of  bright  countenances,  vigorous 
and  active  men,  so  well  trained  in  the  use  of  their  arms,  and  the  var- 
ious motions  and  marches,  that  I  have  heard  some  Colonels  of  other 
regiments,  and  a  Brigadier  General  say,  they  never  saw  throughout 
the  country,  not  in  their  own  regiment,  no,  nor  in  Boston,  so  goodly 
an  appearance  of  spirited  men,  and  so  well  exercised  a  regiment. 

When  I  came,  there  was  not  so  much  as  one  proper  carpenter,  nor 
mason,  nor  tailor,  nor  butcher  in  the  town,  nor  any  thing  of  a  market 
worth  naming ;  but  they  had  their  houses  built  by  country  workmen, 
and  their  clothes  made  out  of  town,  and  supplied  themselves  with 
beef  and  pork  from  Boston,  which  drained  the  town  of  its  money. 
But  now  we  abound  in  artificers,  and  some  of  the  best,  and  our  mar- 
kets large,  even  to  a  full  supply.  And,  what  above  all  I  would  re- 
mark, there  was  not  so  much  as  one  foreign  trading  vessel  belonging 
to  the  town,  nor  for  several  years  after  I  came  into  it;  though  no 
town  had  really  greater  advantages  in  their  hands.     The  people  con- 

(62) 


REV.   JOHN  BARNARD   IN   1714.  63 

tented  themselves  to  be  the  slaves  that  digged  in  the  mines,  and  left 
the  merchants  of  Boston,  Salem,  and  Europe,  to  carry  away  the  gains; 
by  which  means  the  town  was  always  in  dismally  poor  circumstances, 
involved  in  debt  to  the  merchants  more  than  they  were  worth;  nor 
could  I  find  twenty  families  in  it  that,  upon  the  best  examination, 
could  stand  upon  their  own  legs ;  and  they  were  generally  as  rude, 
swearing,  drunken,  and  fighting  a  crew,  as  they  were  poor.  .Where- 
as, not  only  are  the  public  ways  vastly  mended,  but  the  manners  of 
the  people  greatly  cultivated  ;  and  we  have  many  gentlemenlike  and 
polite  families,  and  the  very  fishermen  generally  scorn  the  rudenesses 
of  the  former  generation. 

I  soon  saw  that  the  town  had  a  price  in  its  hands,  and  it  was  a  pity 
they  had  not  a  heart  to  improve  it.  I  therefore  laid  myself  out  to 
get  acquaintance  with  the  English  masters  of  vessels,  that  I  might 
by  them  be  let  into  the  mystery  of  the  fish  trade,  and  in  a  little  time 
I  gained  a  pretty  thorough  understanding  in  it.  When  I  saw  the 
advantages  of  it,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  stir  up  my  people,  such  as 
I  thought  would  harken  to  me,  and  were  capable  of  practising  upon 
the  advice,  to  send  the  fish  to  market  themselves,  that  they  might 
reap  the  benefit  of  it,  to  the  enriching  themselves,  and  serving  the 
town.  But,  alas!  I  could  inspire  no  man  with  courage  and  resolution 
enough  to  engage  in  it,  till  L  met  with  Mr.  Joseph  Swett,  a  young 
man  of  strict  justice,  great  industry,  enterprising  genius,  quick  ap- 
prehension, and  firm  resolution,  but  of  small  fortune.  To  him  I  opened 
myself  fully,  laid  the  scheme  clearly  before  him,  and  he  hearkened 
unto  me,  and  wise  enough  to  put  it  in  practise.  He  first  sent  a  small 
cargo  to  Barbadoes.  He  soon  found  he  increased  his  stock,  built  ves- 
sels, and  sent  the  fish  to  Europe,  and  prospered  in  the  trade,  to  the 
enriching  of  himself;  and  some  of  his  family,  by  carrying  on  the 
trade,  have  arrived  at  large  estates.  The  more  promising  young 
men  of  the  town  soon  followed  his  example;  that  now  we  have  be- 
tween thirty  and  forty  ships,  brigs,  snows,  and  topsail  schooners  en- 
gaged in  foreign  trade.  From  so  small  a  beginning  the  town  has 
risen  into  its  present  flourishing  circumstances,  and  we  need  no  for- 
eigner to  transport  our  fish,  but  are  able  ourselves  to  send  it  all  to 
the  market. 


DR.  ALEXANDER  HAMILTON  IN  1744. 

DOCTOR  Hamilton  was  a  Scotchman  who  had  learned  pharmacy 
in  Edinburgh  and  came  to  Annapolis,  Maryland,  where  he  set 
up  the  practice  of  medicine.  After  a  severe  illness  he  under- 
took a  journey  through  the  Colonies  with  the  hope  of  benefitting  his 
health  and  during  that  time  kept  a  journal  descriptive  of  his  move- 
ments and  the  country  through  which  he  passed.  Shortly  after  re- 
turning to  Annapolis  he  presented  this  journal  to  an  Italian  gentle- 
man, Onorio  Razolini,  who  was  visiting  America  and  in  whose  family 
the  manuscript  remained  until  the  beginning  of  the  twentieth  century 
when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  booksellers  and  eventually  became 
the  property  of  Mr.  William  K.  Bixby  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  who 
published  it  privately  under  the  following  title :  Hamilton's  Itinerarium, 
being  a  Narrative  of  a  Journey  from  Annapolis,  Maryland,  though  Dela- 
ware, Pennsylvania,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island, 
Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  from  May  to  September,  1 744,  St. 
Louis,  1907. 

Mystic — Lynn 

Departing  Charlestown  I  passed  thro'  Mystic  at  ten  o'clock,  a  pretty 
large  village,  about  four  miles  northeast  from  Boston.  A  little  after 
twelve  I  passed  thro'  Lynn,  another  village,  but  very  scattered,  and 
standing  upon  a  large  compass  of  ground,  the  situation  very  open 
and  pleasant.  Here  I  could  have  a  view  of  the  sea  upon  my  right 
hand,  and  upon  my  left  a  large  open  hilly  and  rocky  country  with 
some  skirts  of  woods,  which  seemed  to  be  but  low  and  of  a  small 
growth. 

Marblehead  y 

At  one  o'clock  I  arrived  at  Marblehead,  a  large  fishing  town,  lying 
upon  the  sea  coast,  built  upon  a  rock,  and  standing  pretty  bleak  to 
the  easterly  winds  from  the  sea.  It  lies  eighteen  miles  northeast  from 
Boston,  and  is  somewhat  larger  than  Albany,  but  not  so  neatly  or 
compactly  built,  the  houses  being  all  of  wood  and  the  streets  very 

(64) 


DR.   ALEXANDER  HAMILTON  IN   1744.  65 

uneven,  narrow,  and  irregular.  It  contains  about  5,000  inhabitants 
and  their  commodity  is  fish.  There  is  round  the  town  above  200 
acres  of  land  covered  with  fish-flakes,  upon  which  they  dry  their  cod. 
There  are  ninety  fishing  sloops  always  employed,  and  they  deal  for 
£34,000  sterling  prime  cost  value  in  fish  yearly,  bringing  in  30,000 
quintals, — a  quintal  being  one  hundredweight  dried  fish,  which  is 
3,000,000  pounds  weight,  a  great  quantity  of  that  commodity. 

I  put  up  here  at  one  Ried's  at  the  sign  of  the  Dragon,  and  while  I 
was  at  dinner,  Mr  Malcolm,*  the  Church  of  England  minister  to 
whom  I  was  recommended,  came  in. 

After  I  had  dined  he  carried  me  round  the  town,  and  showed  me 
the  fish-flakes,  and  the  town  battery,  which  is  built  upon  a  rock,  nat- 
urally well  fortified,  and  mounts  about  twelve  large  guns..  We  had 
a  great  deal  of  talk  about  affairs  at  home.  I  went  to  his  house  and 
drank  tea  with  him. 

He  showed  me  some  pretty  pieces  of  music,  and  played  some  tunes 
on  the  flute  and  violin.  He  is  author  of  a  very  good  book  upon  music, 
which  shows  his  judgment  and  knowledge   in  that  part  of.  Science. 

Sunday,  July  29th. — This  morning  inquiring  for  my  portmanteau, 
I  was  told  by  my  man  Dromo  that  it  was  in  his  room.  I  had  the 
curiosity  to  go  and  see  what  kind  of  a  room  his  room  was,  and  upon 
a  reconnoitre  found  it  a  most  spacious  one,  furnished  a  la  mode  de 
cabaret,  with  tables,  chairs,  a  fine  feather-bed  with  quilted  counter- 
pane, white  calico  canopy  or  tester,  and  curtains,  every  way  adapted 
for  a  gentleman  of  his  degree  and  complexion. 

I  went  to  church  to  hear  Mr.  Malcolm  in  the  forenoon,  who  gave 
us  a  pretty  discourse.  This  church  is  a  building  of  wood,  about 
eighty  feet  square,  supported  in  the  inside  with  eight  large  octagonal 
wooden  pillars  of  the  Doric  order.  Upon  this  church  stands  a  steeple 
in  which  there  is  a  public  clock.  The  floor  of  the  church  is  raised 
six  or  seven  feet  above  the  ground,  and  under  it  is  a  burying  place. 

The  pulpit  and  alter  are  neat  enough,  the  first  being  set  out  with 
a  cushion  of  red  velvet,  and  the  other  painted  and  adorned  with  the 
King's  arms  at  top.  There  is  one  large  gallery  facing  the  pulpit,  op- 
posite to  which  at  the  south  entry  of  the  church  hangs  a  pretty  large 

*Rev.  Alexander  Malcolm,  rector  of  St.  Michael's  Church  (1740-1749)  who  re- 
signed and  removed  to  Maryland. 


66  DR.   ALEXANDER   HAMILTON   IN   1744. 

gilt  candle  branch.     The  congregation  consists  of  about  400  people. 
I  dined   with  Mr.  Malcolm,  and  went  to  church  again  with  him  in 
the  afternoon,  and  spent  the  evening  agreeably  in  his  company.     In 
this  town  are  likewise  two  great  Presbyterian  meetings. 

Salem 

Monday,  July  30th. — Mr.  Malcolm  and  I  set  out  at  eleven  o'clock 
in  the  morning  for  Salem,  which  is  a  pretty  town  about  five  miles 
from  Marblehead,  going  round  a  creek,  but  not  above  two  if  you 
cross  the  creek.  We  arrived  there  betwixt  twelve  and  one  o'clock, 
and  called  at  Justice  Sewell's,*  who  invited  us  to  dine  with  him.  We 
put  up  our  horses  at  the  Ship  Tavern,  and  went  to  Mr.  Sewell's. 

Our  conversation  ran  upon  the  enthusiasm  now  prevalent  in  these 
parts,  and  the  strange  madness  that  had  possessed  some  people  at 
Ipswitch,  occasioned  by  one  Woodberry,  a  mad  enthusiast,  who,  pre- 
tending to  inspiration,  uttered  several  blasphemous  and  absurd 
speeches,  asserting  that  he  was  the  same  today,  yesterday,  and  for- 
ever, saying  he  had  it  in  his  power  to  save  or  damn  whom  he  pleased, 
falling  down  upon  the  ground,  licking  the  dust,  and  condemning  all 
to  hell  who  would  not  do  the  like,  drinking  healths  to  King  Jesus, 
the  self-existing  Being,  and  prosperity  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and 
a  thousand  other  such  mad  and  ridiculous  frolics.  I  was  quite 
shocked  at  these  relations,  both  when  I  heard  them  mentioned  in 
conversation,  and  saw  them  published  in  the  newspaper,  being  sur- 
prised that  some  of  the  chief  clergy  there  had  been  so  weak  as  to  be 
drawn  away  by  these  follies.  This  is  a  remarkable  instance  to  what 
lengths  of  madness  enthusiasm  will  carry  men  once  they  give  it  a 
loose  [reinl,  and  tho'  these  excursions  may  appear  shocking  to  people 
in  their  senses,  yet  so  much  good  may  follow  them  as  that  the  interest 
and  influence  of  these  fanatic  preachers  will  be  thereby  depressed 
among  all  such  people  as  are  not  quite  fools  or  mad. 

These  extravagancies  take  all  their  first  root  from  the  labours  of 
that  righteous  apostle  Whiteficld,  who,  only  for  (he  sake  of  private 
lucre  and  gain,  sowed  the  first  seeds  of  distraction  in  these  unhappy 
ignorant  parts. 

♦Stephen  Sewall  (1704-1760),  Harvard  College,  1721.  Judge  of  die  Superior 
Court  of  Judicature  and  Chief  Justice  from  1752  until  his  death.  He  was  the  son 
of  Major  Stephen  Sewall  who  was  the  clerk  of  the  witchcraft  court. 


DR.   ALEXANDER   HAMILTON  IN   1744.  67 

In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Malcolm  and  I  rid  to  the  country-seat  of  one 
Brown,*  a  gentleman  who  married  a  daughter  of  the  late  Governour 
Burnets',  a  grand-daughter  of  the  bishops'.  His  house  stands  upon 
the  top  of  a  high  hill,  and  is  not  yet  quite  finished.  It  is  built  in  the 
form  of  an  H,  with  a  middle  body  and  two  wings. 

The  porch  is  supported  by  pillars  of  the  Ionic  order  about  fifteen 
feet  high,  and  betwixt  the  windows  of  the  front  are  pilasters  of  the 
same.  The  great  hall  or  parlour  is  about  forty  feet  long  and  twenty 
five  wide,  with  a  gallery  over  the  first  row  of  windows,  and  there  are 
two  large  rooms  upon  a  floor  in  each  of  the  wings  about  twenty-five 
feet  square. 

From  this  hill  you  have  a  most  extensive  view.  To  the  southwest 
you  see  the  Blue  Hills,  about  thirty-six  miles  distance;  to  the  east 
the  sea  and  several  islands;  to  the  northwest  the  top  of  a  mountain 
called  Wachusett  Mountain,  like  a  cloud,  about  ninety  miles  distance, 
towards  Albany. ;  and  all  round  you  have  a  fine  landscape,  covered 
with  woods,  a  mixture  of  hills  and  valleys,  land  and  water,  upon 
which  variety  the  eye  dwells  with  pleasure.  This  hill  Mr.  Brown 
calls  Mount  Burnet  in  compliment  to  his  wife. 

In  the  hall  I  saw  a  piece  ot  tapestry  or  arras  of  scripture  history, 
done  by  Vanderbank,  a  Dutch  artist.  For  elegance  and  design  it  is 
like  painting,  the  passions  in  the  faces  being  well  expressed.  It  is 
the  best  of  the  kind  ever  I  saw. 

This  gentleman  has  a  fine  estate,  but  withal  has  the  character  of 
being  narrow  and  avaricious,  a  vice  uncommon  to  young  men.  He 
has  a  strange  taste  for  theological  controversy.  While  we  were  there 
the  conversation  turned  chiefly  upon  nice  metaphysical  distinctions 
relating  to  original  sin,  imputed  righteousness,  reprobation,  effectual 
calling,  and  absolute  decrees,  which  stuff — as  I  esteem  it  to  be  no  more 
than  the  monstruous  and  deformed  offspring  of  scholastic,  theological 
heads — I  should  choose  to  hear  at  no  other  times  but  when  I  took  a 

*Hon.  William  Browne  (1709-1763),  whose  county  seat  in  Beverly  was  popularly 
known  as  "Browne's  Folly,"  a  name  afterwards  applied  to  the  hill  on  which  it  was 
built.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  and  died  suddenly  while 
about  his  fields  in  Beverly.  A  reservior  supplying  water  to  the  city  of  Salem 
now  occupies  the  crest  of  this  hill.  For  a  full  account  of  "Browne's  Folly"  and 
its  owner  see  Essex  Institute  Historical  Collections,  Vol.  31,  page  205. 


68  DR.   ALEXANDER   HAMILTON   IN   1744. 

cathartic  or  emetic,  in  order  to  promote  the  operation  if  it  proved  too 
sluggish. 

Mr.  Malcolm  and  I  returned  to  Salem  a  little  before  eight  o'clock, 
and  went  to  the  Ship  Tavern,  where  we  drank  punch  and  smoaked 
tobacco  with  several  colonels ;  for  colonels,  captains,  and  majors  are 
so  plenty  here  that  they  are  to  be  met  with  in  all  companies,  and  yet 
methinks  they  look  no  more  like  soldiers  than  they  look  like  divines ; 
but  they  are  gentlemen  of  the  place,  and  that  is  sufficient. 

We  went  to  Mr.  Sewell's  lodging  betwixt  nine  and  ten '  at  night, 
and  after  some  chat  with  him  went  to  bed. 

The  town  of  Salem  is  a  pretty  place,  being  the  first  settled  place 
in  New  England.  In  it  there  is  one  Church  of  England,  one  Quaker 
meeting,  and  five  Presbyterian  meetings.  It  consists  of  one  very  long 
street,  running  nearly  east  and  west. 

Upon  the  watch-house,*  is  a  grenadier,  carved  in  wood,  shoulder- 
ing his  piece. 

Salem  Ferry — Ipswitch 

Tuesday,  July  31st. — -At  eleven  o'clock  this  morning  Mr.  Malcolm 
accompanied  me  to  Salem  Ferry,  where  I  crossed,  and  rid  a  pleasant 
level  road  all  they  way  to  Ipswitch,  where  the  houses  are  so  thick 
planted  that  it  looks  like  one  continued  village.  I  put  up  at  one 
Howel's  in  Ipswitch,  at  the  sign  of  the  Armed  Knight.  I  waited  up- 
on Mr.  John  Rogers,!  the  minister  there,  and  delivered  him  a  packet 
of  letters  from  his  son  at  Annapolis. 

I  returned  again  to  the  tavern  and  there  met  a  talkative  old  fellow, 
who  was  very  inquisitive  about  my  place  of  abode  and  occupation, 
as  he  called  it. 

He  frequently  accosted  me  with  please  your  honour,  with  which 
grand  title,  like  some  fools  whom  I  know,  I  seemed  highly  pleased, 
tho' I  was  conscious  it  did  not  belong  tome.  When  I  told  him  I 
came  from  Maryland  he  said  he  had  frequently  read  of  that  place, 

*The  watch  house  formerly  stood  in  Town  House  Square,  in  the  middle  of  what 
is  now  Washington  Street.  It  was  erected  in  1712  and  was  little  more  than  a 
large  sentry  box.  The  life-size  figure  of  a  grenadier  bore  on  its  breast  the  legend 
"Anne  Regina,  1712." 

|Rev.  John  Rogers  died  the  next  year.  lie  had  been  minister  of  the  Ipswich 
church  since  1688.    His  portrait  is  at  the  Essex  Institute,  Salem. 


DR.   ALEXANDER  HAMILTON  IN   1744.  69 

but  never  had  seen  it.  This  old  fellow,  by  his  own  account,  had  read 
of  everything,  but  had  seen  nothing.  He  affected  being  a  scholar, 
or  a  man  much  given  to  reading  or  study,  and  used  a  great  many 
hard  words  in  discourse,  which  he  generally  misapplied.  There  was 
likewise  a  young  man  in  company,  who  rid  with  me  some  miles  on 
my  way  to  Newberry.  He  valued  himself  much  upon  the  goodness 
of  his  horse,  and  said  that  he  was  a  prime  beast  as  ever  went  upon 
four  legs  or  wore  hoofs.  He  told  me  he-had  a  curiosity  to  ride  to 
Maryland,  but  was  afraid  of  the  terrible  woods  in  the  way,  and  asked 
me  if  there  were  not  a  great  many  dangerous  wild  beasts  in  these 
woods.  I  told  him  that  the  most  dangerous  wild  beasts  in  these  woods 
were  shaped  exactly  like  men,  and  they  went  by  the  name  of  Buck- 
skins, or  Bucks, ;  tho'  they  were  not  Bucks  either,  but  something,  as 
it  were,  betwixt  a  man  and  a  beast. 

"Bless  us!  you  don't  say  so,"  says  he ;  "then  surely  you  had  needs 
ride  with  guns"  (meaning  my  pistols).  I  parted  with  this  wiseacre. 
When  I  had  got  about  half  way  to  Newberry,  a  little  farther  I  met  a 
fat  sheep  driving  in  a  chaise,  a  negro  sitting  upon  the  box.  I  asked 
the  negro  if  that  was  his  master. 

He  told  me  no,  but  that  it  was  a  wether  belonging  to  Mr.  Jones, 
who  had  strayed  and  would  not  come  home  without  being  carried. 
Passing  by  this  prodigy  I  met  another,  which  was  two  great  fat  women 
riding  upon  one  horse. 

I  arrived  at  Newbury  at  seven  o'clock,  and  put  up  at  one  Choat's 
at  the  sign  of  the  Crown,  which  is  a  good  house.  Newbury  is  a  pretty 
large  village,  lying  close  upon  the  water ;  the  houses  are  chiefly  wood. 
In  this  town  there  is  one  handsome  meeting  built  in  a  square  form, 
with  a  spire  or  steeple  upon  which  is  a  little  neat  publick  clock. 

Newbury  Ferry — Hampton 

Wednesday,  August  1st. — This  morning  proved  very  rainy,  and 
therefore  I  did  not  set  out  till  eleven  o'clock. 

I  crossed  Newbury  Ferry,  and  rid  a  pleasant  even  road,  only  some- 
what stony,  and  in  a  perpetual  drizzle,  so  that  I  could  not  have  an 
cidvantageous  view  of  the  country  round  me.  At  half  an  hour  after 
one  I  passed  thro'  Hampton,  a  very  long,  scattered  town.  .  .  . 


70  DR.   ALEXANDER   HAMILTON  IN   1744. 

Newbury  Ferry 

[August  3d]  Near  Newbury  Ferry  I  met  an  old  man,  who  was  very 
inquisitive  about  news.  He  rid  above  a  mile  with  me.  I  crossed  the 
ferry  at  twelve  o'clock,  and  dined  at  Choat's  with  two  Boston  gentle- 
men, and  after  dinner  they  would  have  had  me  go  to  the  Presbyter- 
ian meeting  to  hear  a  sermon,  but  I  declined  it,  and  getting  upon 
horseback  departed  Newbury  at  three  in  the  afternoon,  the  day  being 
pretty  hot. 

Some  miles  from  this  town  I  passed  thro'  a  pleasant  small  plain 
about  a  quarter  .of  a  mile  broad,  thro'  the  middle  of  which  runs  a 
pretty  winding  river.  On  the  way  I  met  a  young  sailor  on  foot  who 
kept  pace  with  my  horse,  and  he  told  me  he  was  bound  for  Salem 
that  night.  He  entertained  me  with  his  adventures  and  voyages, 
and  dealt  much  in  the  miraculous,  according  to  the  custom  of  most 
travellers  and  sailors.  I  arrived  at  Ipswitch  at  six  o'clock  and  put 
up  at  Howell's.  I  went  to  see  Mr.  Rogers,  the  minister  there,  and  at 
night  drank  punch  with  his  son,  the  doctor. 

Salem  Ferry 

Saturday,  August  4th. — I  left  Ipswich  early  in  the  morning,  and 
had  a  solitary  ride  to  Salem.  I  put  up  my  horses  there  at  the  Ship 
Tavern  and  called  at  Messr's  Sewelfs  and  Brown's,  but  they  were 
both  gone  out  of  town. 

At  Salem  there  is  a  fort  with  two  demi-bastions,  but  they  stand 
less  in  need  of  it  than  any  of  the  other  maritime  towns  here,  for  the 
entry  to  this  harbour  is  so  difficult  and  rocky  that  even  those  who 
have  been  for  years  used  to  the  place  will  not  venture  in  without  a 
good  pilot,  so  that  it  would  be  a  hard  task  for  an  enemy  to  enter. 
Portsmouth  harbour  is  easy  enough,  but  the  current  of  the  tides  there 
is  so  violent  that  there  is  no  getting  in  or  out  but  at  particular  seasons, 
and,  besides,  they  are  locked  in  on  all  hands  by  islands  and  promon- 
tories.    At  Marblehead  the  entry  is  very  easy  and  open. 

At  twelve  o'clock  I  thought  of  going  to  Marblehead  again  to  pay 
another  visit  to  Mr.  Malcolm,  whose  company  and  conversation  had 
much  pleased  me,  but  meeting  here  with  a  gentleman  going  to  Boston, 
I  took  the  opportunity,  for  the  sake  of  company,  to  go  along  with 
him. 


REV.  GEGRGE  WHITEFIELD  IN  1740. 

REV.  George  Whitefield,  the  revivalist,  made  several  tours  of 
New  England  and  at  last  died  suddenly  in  Newburyport,  in 
1770  and  was  buried  "Under  the  church  on  Federal  Street" 
where  for  many  years  the  coffin  was  exhibited  to  visitors.  Doctor 
Bentley,  the  Salem  ^minister,  viewed  the  remains  on  May  6,  1787  and 
records  in  his  Diary  :  "His  body  is  yet  firm.  The  resistance  of  the 
breast  is  as  great  as  in  a  piece  of  tight  parchment,  both  his  hands 
are  taken  away,  and  his  throat  cut  open."  His  first  tour  of  New 
England  was  published  under  the  following  title :  "A  Continuation 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefields'  Journal  .  .  .  Containing  an  account  of 
the  work  of  God  at  Georgia,  Rhode  Island,  New-England  .  .  .  London, 
1741. 

Monday,  Sept.  29,  [1740].  Set  out  about  7  in  the  Morning,  got  to 
Marblehead,  a  large  Town  20  Miles  from  Boston,  about  11 ;  preach'd 
to  some  Thousands  in  a  broad  Place  in  the  middle  of  the  Town,  but 
not  with  much  visable  Effect.  Din'd  with  Mr.  Barnard,  one- of  the 
Ministers  of  the  Place.  Rode  to  Salem,  4  Miles  from  Marblehead, 
and  preach'd  there  also  to  about  7000  People ;  Here  the  Lord  mani- 
fested forth  his  Glory.  One  Man  was,  I  believe,  struck  down  by  the 
Power  of  the  Word.  In  every  Part  of  the  Congregation  Persons 
might  be  seen  under  great  Concern  ;  One  Mr.  Clark,  a  good  Minister, 
as  is  granted  by  all  Lovers  of  God,  seemed  to  be  almost  in  Heaven. 
Salem  is  the  first  settled,  and  except  Boston,  the  largest  Town  in  all 
New  England;  but  rather,  as  far  as  I  could  see  and  hear,  excells  it  for 
Politeness.  Upon  Enquiry,  I  found  the  Inhabitants  had  been  sadly 
divided  about  their  Minister;  and  God  was  pleased,  before  I  knew 
their  Circumstances,  to  direct  me  to  a  suitable  Subject.  ...  After 
the  Exercise,  I  immediately  set  out  and  got  to  Ipswich,  another  large 
Town,  16  Miles  (the  Way  we  went)  distant  from  Salem.  Two  or 
three  Gentlemen  came  to  meet  me,  and  I  and  my  Friends  were  kind- 
ly entertain :d  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Rogers,  one  of  the  Ministers  of 
the  Place. 

(71) 


72  REV.   GEORGE  WHITEFIELD   IN   1740. 

Tuesday,  Sept.  30.  Preach'd  at  Ipswich  about  10  in  the  Morning, 
to  some  Thousands  ;  The  Lord  gave  me  Freedom,  and  there  was  a 
great  Melting  in  the  Congregation.  Din'd,  set  out  and  reach'd  New- 
bury, another  large  Town,  twelve  Miles  distant  from  Ipswich,  about 
3.  Here  again  the  Lord  accompanied  the  Word  with  his  Power; 
■  The  Meeting-House  was  very  large,  many  Ministers  were  present, 
and  People  were  greatly  affected.  Took  Ferry  immediately  after 
Sermon;  went  with  Mr.  Cotton,  Minister  of  the  Place,  who  came  to 
meet  me  in  a  Chaise  to  Hampton,  another  great, Town,  9  Miles  from 
Newbury. 

Set  out  directly  for  Newbury ;  which  we  reach'd  about  8  at  Night, 
and  were  kindly  entertain'd  at  a  Gentleman's  .House  with  all  my 
Friends,  my  Heart  was  much  enlarged  and  fill'd  with  Joy.  .  .  . 

Saturday,  Octob.  4.  Lay  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Lowell,  Minister  of 
the  Place.  Preached  in  the  Morning  to  a  very  throng'd  Congregation, 
and  saw  the  Outgoings  of  God  in  his  Sanctuary ;  collected  £80  9s. 
Hastned  to  Ipswich;  preached  to  a  larger  Congregation,  and  with  as 
much  Power  as  when  there  last.     Got  to  Salem  about  8  at  night,  was 

most  kindly  received  by  Col.  P d ;  and  also  was  favour'd  with  a 

Visit  from  the  Minister  belonging  to  the  Church  of  England. 

Sunday,  October  5.  Preach'd  at  8  o'clock,  this  Morning  in  the 
Meeting-House.  At  the  Minister's  Request,  read  Prayers  and  assisted 
at  the  Sacrament  in  the  Church  of  England,  but  thought  Matters 
were  not  at  all  carried  on  with  Decency  and  Order.  Preached  again 
in  the  Afternoon  in  the  Meeting-House,  but  saw  no  such  Power  all 
the  Day  as  when  I  preached  here  a  few  Days  ago. 

Monday,  October  6.  Spent  the  Sabbath  Evening  very  comfortably 
with  my  dear  Fellow  Travellers  in  praying  and  singing  spiritual  Songs ; 
I  trust  we  made  Melody,  with  Grace  in  our  Hearts'  unto  the  Lord. 
Set  out  from  Salem  about  9,  preached  at  Marblehead  about  11, 
and  with  such  Power  that  I  trust  it  will  be  a  Day  much  to~be  re- 
membered by  many  Souls.  The  two  Ministers  presented  me  £70  2s. 
6d.  for  the  Orphan-House,  which  they  had  voluntarily  collected  Yes- 
terday in  their  own  private  Meetings.  Was  most  affectionately  re- 
ceived and  entertain'd  by  Col.  M n,  from  whom  I  parted  almost 

with  Tears. 


ESSEX  COUNTY  QUARTERLY  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING 
TO  TOPSFIELD. 


ABSTRACTED  BY  GEORGE  FRANCIS  DOW. 


{Continued  from  Volume  XXIV,  page  140.) 

Topsfield  marriages,  1669,  returned  by  John  Redington,  clarke  : — 
James  Waters  and  Mary  Stalworthie,  Mar.  24. 
Michaell  Bouden  and  Sara  Nurse,  Dec.  15. 

Topsfield  births,  1669  :— 
Benjamin,  son  of  Isack  and  Mary  Estey,  Apr.  29, 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Edmond  and  Mary  Towne,  Nov.  2. 
Nathaniel,  son  of  Frances  and  Mary  Pebodie,  July  29. 
Martha,  daughter  of  John  and  Phebe  French,  Aug.  19. 
Solomon,  son  of  William  and  Rebecah  Smith,  Mar.  3. 
John,  son  of  John  and  Mary  How,  Mar.  3. 
Samuell,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  Gould,  Mar.  9. 
Ebenezer,  son  of  William  and  Hana  Averel,  Oct.  14. 
Mary,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Waters,  Feb.  7. 
Mary,  daugher  of  Josiph  and  Phebe  Towne,  Mar.  27,  1670. 

Francis  Pabody  served  on  the  grand  jury  and  Thomas  Perkings 
on  the  jury  of  trials  at  Ipswich,  Sept.  28,  1669. 

Thomas  Baker  v.  Anthony  Carrell.  For  not  delivering  him  a  divi- 
sion of  land,  etc.     Verdict  for  plaintiff. 

John  Jewett  deposed  that  on  Apr.  2,  1661,  he  was  possessed  of  that 
land  in  Topsfield  which  he  sold  to  Anthony  Carrell,  it  having  come 
to  him  from  his  father  Comings  upon  marriage.  His  father  told  him 
that  he  himself  was  rated  in  Topsfield,  and  further  that  his  father  paid 
it  for  him  and  he  allowed  him  for  it.     Sworn  in  court. — Sept.  28,  1669* 

John  How  v.  John  Hutcheson.     Debt.     Verdict  for  plaintiff. 

Writ,  dated  Sept.  21,  1669,  signed  by  Robert  Lord,  for  the  court, 
and  served  by  Robert  Lord,  marshal  of  Ipswich  by  attachment  of  a 
parcel  of  tobacco  of  defendant's. 

Amme  Coper  testified  that  John  Hucheson  was  to  pay  John  How 
for  his  horse  in  tobacco  and  sugar  as  it  went  from  merchant  to  mer- 
chant.    Sworn,  Sept.  28,  1669,  before  Daniel  Denison. 

*The  date  at  the  end  of  each  paragraph  or  case  is  the  date  of  the  session  of 
the  Court. 

(73) 


74  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

Jonathan  Clark,  aged  about  twenty-one  years,  deposed.  Sworn  in 
court. 

John  How  received  of  John  Hutcheson  three  score  and  fourteen 
pounds  of  tobacco  and  five  score  and  one  pound  of  sugar. 

John  How's  bill  of  cost,  Hi.  2s.  4d. 

John  Hutchinson  of  Salem  acknowledged  a  debt  of  81i.  10s.  to  John 
How  of  Topesfeld,  dated  Aug.  12,  1668,  in  consideration  of  a  horse ; 
if  the  horse  lived  to  Barbadoes,  said  How  was  to  have' his  pay  in  to- 
bacco and  sugar,  but  if  it  died,  he  was  to  have  but  41i.,  or  if  the  horse 
was  otherwise  disposed  of  he  was  to  have  the  money.  Wit :  Recherd 
(his  mark)  Husheson  and  Ame  (her  mark)  Coper.  Sworn  by  Ame 
Cooper,  Sept.  28,  1669,  before  Daniel  Denison. 

Itemized  account  of  the  sugar  and  tobacco  received  by  John  How 
to  the  amount  of  81i.  13s.  6d.— Sept.  28,  1669. 

Evan  Morice,  upon  acknowledging  in  court  that  he  was  drunk,  was 
fined.— Sept  28r  1669. 

Execution,  dated  July  17,  1669,  against  John  Goold  of  Topsfeild,  to 
satisfy  judgment  granted  Mr.  William  Browne,  sr.,  June  29,  1669,  at 
Salem  court ;  signed  by  Hilliard  Veren,  cleric ;  and  served  by  Henery 
Skerry,  marshal  of  Salem,  by  attachment  of  eight  neat  cattle. — Nov. 
30,  1669. 

Warrant  to  the  constable  of  Topsfield,  dated  Mar.  2,  1668  :  "Wher- 
as  the  law  published  by  the  Honered  Generall  Court  lib.  1  pag  76. 
Sect.  3,  doe  require  all  Townes  from  time  to  time  to  dispose  of  all  sing- 
le psons  and  inmates  within  their  Towns  to  service  or  otherwise  and 
in  pag.  16.  tit.  children  &  youth,  It  is  required  of  the  selectmen  that 
they  see  that  all  and  youth  under  family  Government  be  taught  to 
'■  read  perfectly  the  english  tongue,  have  knowledge  in  the  capital  laws, 
and  be  taught  some  orthodox  catechism,  and  that  they  be  brought  up 
to  some  honest  imployment,  profitable  to  themsellves  and  the  com- 
monwealth, and  in  case  of  neglect,  on  the  part  of  famaly  Governours, 
after  admonition  given  them,  the  sayd  selectmen  are  required,  with 
the  helpe  of  two  magistrates,  or  next  court  of  that  shire,  to  take  such 
children  or  apprentices  from  them,  and  place  them  forthwith  such  as 
will  looke  more  straitly  to,  them.  The  neglect  whereof,  as  by  sad  ex- 
perience from  court  to  court  abundantly  appears,  doth  occasion  much 
sin  and,  prophanes  to  increase  among  us,  to  the  dishoner  of  God,  and 
theensueing  of  many  children  and  servants,  by  the  dissolute  lives 
and  practices  of  such  as  doe  live  from  under  family  Goverment  and 
is  a  great  discouragement  to  most  family  governours,  who  conscien- 
tiously indeavour  to  bring  up  their  youth  in  all  christian  nurture,  as 
the  laws  of  God  and  this  commonwealth  doth  require;"  said  constable 
was  ordered  to  acquaint  the  selectmen  of  the  town  that  "the  court 
doth  expect  and  will  require  that  the  sayd  laws  be  accordingly  attend- 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  75 

ed,  the  prevalency  of  the  formar  neglect  notwithstanding,  and  you 
are  also  required  to  take  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  young  persons 
within  the  bounds  of  your  Town,  and  all  adiacent  farmes,  through 
out  of  all  Towne  bounds,  who  do  live  from  under  family  goverment 
viz.  doe  not  serve  their  parents  or  masters,  as  children,  apprentices, 
hired  servants  or  journeymen  ought  to  do,  and  usually  did  in  our  na- 
tive country,  being  subiect  to  there  commands  &  disipline  and  the 
same  you  are  to  returne  to  the  next  court  to  be  held  at  Ipswich  the 
30  day  of  this  month,  etc. ;  signed  by  Robert  Lord,  cleric ;  and  served 
by  Thomas  Dorman,  constable  of  Topsfield,  who  returned  that  he  had 
made  the  selectmen  acquainted  with  Mathew  Hooker  living  out  of 
service,  who  was  all  that  he  found  in  the  town. — Nov.  30,  1669. 

Thomas  Baker  served  on  the  jury  of  trials  at  Ipswich,  Mar.  29, 
1670. 

John  French  was  sworn  constable  of  Topsfield. — Mar.  29,  1670. 

John  Gould  was  licensed  to  draw  cider  and  liquors  for  six  months. 
— Mar.  29, 1670. 

John  Death  and  his  wife  were  fin  ^d  for  fornication  before  marriage. 
— Mar.  29,  1670. 

Mr.  Thomas  Gilbert  was  presented  for  suspicion  of  being  overtaken 
with  drink.  Court  saw  cause  to  counsel  and  admonish  him  and  or- 
dered him  to  pay  the  witnesses  returned  by  the  jury. 

On  30 :  1 :  1670,  William  Averell,  late  constable  of  Topsfield,  ad- 
dressed the  court,  he  having  been  charged  with  base  carriages  open- 
ly in  the  congregation  for  doing  no  more  than  he  apprehended  was 
his  duty:  "About  the  14th  of  the  9th  mo  last  Mr.  Gilbert  being 
about  to  publish  an  order  from  the  gen  court  for  a  day  of  thanksgiv- 
ing as  afterwards  apeared  :  hee  was  pleased  to  say  that  one  the  4th 
of  the  next  month  the  last  generall  court  at  boston  had  agreed  upon 
or  given  order  for  a  day  of  thanksgiving  wherupon  one  that  was 
present  Replyed  Sir  you  mean  the  4th  day  of  next  week  I  being  pres- 
ent saw  there  was  a  mistake  in  boath  I  accounted  it  my  duty  in  con- 
science to  my  oath  to  endevor  to  prevent  furder  inconnevience  at 
that  time  and  place:  made  bold  to  say  it  is  the  4th  day  of  this  week 
as  I  had  ben  informed  to  which  mr  gillbert  Replyed  I  blesse  god  I  am 
not  drunk :  o  base  base  unworthy  cariages  to  catch  at  a  minastars 
words  let  them  that  are  more  godly  and  judicious  speke  that  are 
church  members  If  I  haue  desarued  Justly  to  be  so  villifyed  in  the  face 
of  an  asembly  for  this  cause  I  desire  freely  to  leaue  it  to  the  court  to 
determin." 

Isaack  Comings,  sr.,  and  John  Goold  testified  to  the  same.  Sworn 
in  court. 

Thomas  Baker  deposed  that  one  day  in  the  summer,  on  a  sacra- 
ment day  the  people  waited  a  long  time  in  the  afternoon  for  Mr.  Gil- 


76  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

bert  to  come  and  many  went  away.  When  he  prayed  deponent  per- 
ceived that  he  was  distempered  in  his  head  for  he  repeated  many 
things  many  times  over  and  lisped.  Then  he  went  to  singing  and 
read  the  psalm  so  that  it  could  not  be  well  understood,  then  he  went 
to  prayer  again.  When  he  had  done  he  was  going  to  sing  again,  but 
being  desired  to  forbear  used  these  expressions,  "I  bles  god  I  find  a 
great  deall  of  comfort  in  it,"  and  came  out  of  the  pulpit.  He  said  to 
the  people  "I  give  you  notis  That  I  will  preach  amongst  you  no  more." 
Sworn  in  court. 

Isaacke  Cummings,  sr.,  deposed  that  Mr.  Gilberte  was  not  as  com- 
posed as  he  used  to  be,  and  after  praying  said  "lett  us  singe  the  153 
psalme,"  but  both  in  singing  and  reading  was  very  much  out  of  order 
so  that  the  people  could  not  follow.  When  the  psalm  was  about  half 
done,  deponent  stood  up  and  saw  three  or  four  laughing,  and  he  said, 
"Sir,  I  intreete  you  to  forbare  and  proscede  no  further  for  we  are  very 
much  out  of  order,  for  in  thus  doeinge  we  shall  but  take  the  name  of 
god  in  vaine."  Mr.  Gilberte  stopped,  said  he  found  much  comfort  in 
singing  and  bade  deponent  hold  his  tongue  and  sit  down  and  they 
would  sing  without  him.  Deponent  sat  down  and  Mr.  Gilberte  prayed 
again  and  when  he  began  to  sing  the  second  time,  deponent  stood  up 
and  said,  "Sir,  you  went  first  to  prayer  and  then  you  did  singe  and 
then  you  went  to  prayer  againe  and  now  would  you  goe  to  singe 
againe  certeynly  you  nether  knowe  what  you  say  nor  what  you  doe. 
Then  Mr.  Gilberte  was  very  angry  and  cam  away  without  giuinge 
the  blessinge."     Sworn  in  court. 

Phebe  Perkins,  wife  of  Tho.  Perkins,  deposed  that  on  sacrament 
day  she  was  at  dinner  at  Mr.  Gilbert's  and  there  was  a  cup  with  wine 
in  it  which  was  offered  to  Mr.  Gilbert.  He  refused  to  take  it  at  first, 
but  afterward  put  the  cup  to  his  mouth,  but  she  knew  not  whether 
he  drank  or  not.  Three  more  had  the  cup  besides  himself,  and  after 
he  had  dined  he  drank  what  was  left  in  the  cup.  Immediately  after 
dinner  he  sang  a  psalm,  and  in  reading  it  she  thought  his  voice  was 
lower  than  it  used  to  be.     Sworn  in  court. 

Sarah  Gould  deposed  that  being  at  Mr.  Gilbert's  house  after  sacra- 
ment at  dinner  time,  she  saw  her  brother  Perkins  bring  the  wine, 
empty  it  into  the  golden  cup  and  ask  Mr.  Gilbert  to  drink.  "Mr  Gil- 
bert did  drinke  to  my  Brother  Perkins  and  bad  him  drinke  to  ould 
Goodwife  Townes  shee  did  put  the  cope  to  her  mouth  and  set  the  cope 
doune  and  Mr  Gilbert  take  et  the  seckond  time  at  dinner  and  dranke 
et  up  forhee  torned  up  the  cope  and  my  brother  Perkins  tould  mee 
the  Golden  Cope  was  about  three  quartet  full  1  did  see  the  cope  offered 
to  noe  more  then  is  aboue  mencned  and  emedatly  upon  this  I  did  see 
Mr  Gilbert  eyes  groe  very  dim  and  hee  did  sinke  doune  in  his  chare 
Lenig  bake  and   after  he  had  sat  a  while  hee  toke  his  psalme  books 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  77 

to  sing  and  his  wife  told  him  hee  had  not  returned  thankes  o  said  he 
I  haue  for  goot :  he  did  returne  thankes  and  sing  a  psalme  after  the 
same  maner  as  hee  did  in  the  pulpit  Clepping  his  words  very  short  so 
as  I  could  not  understand  him  as  soone  as  dener  was  don  my  sister 
Perkins  and  I  went  into  the  tother  rome  and  presantly  we  hard  him 
vomit  A :  said  my  sister  Perkins  I  wonder  my  Husban  would  aske  him 
to  drinke  for  I  thinke  hee  had  noe  need  of  et :  for  sd  my  Sister  Perkins 
the  forst  time  hee  toke  the  Cope  I  saw  him  drinke  a  good  draft  and 
as  he  went  to  the  meting  hous  hee  had  Like  to  fale  down  and  when 
hee  Came  into  the  pulpit,  he  went  to  prayer  and  prayed  so  brokenly 
clepping  of  the  King  Engliss  as  we  ues  to  say  so  as  I  could  not  under- 
stand him  and  after  prayer  hee  went  to  sing  a  psalme  and  named  the 
hundred  and  flufty  thurd  psalme  and  after  a  uery  broken  manner  did 
sing,"  etc.  He  said  he  would  never  preach  more  in  Topsfield  and  de- 
sired the  people  to  provide  for  themselves.     Sworn  in  court. 

Johanna  (her  mark)  Towne,  aged  about  seventy-five  years  deposed 
that  in  the  forenoon  of  that  day,  Mr.  Gilbert  administered  the  "sacra- 
ment swetly  unto  us,"  and  after  sacrament  at  dinner  was  very  temper- 
ate, she  sitting  next  to  him.  If  he  were  drunk,  she  believed  it  was  with 
his  distemper  and  not  with  drinking  too  much  strong  liquor,  "as  sum 
so  uncharitably  surmise  against  him." 

John  Gould  deposed  concerning  what  he  heard  his  sister  Perkins 
say,  etc.     Sworn  in  court. — May  3,  1670. 

Will  of  Thomas  Dorman,  sr.,  aged  about  seventy-eight  years,  dated 
Apr.  24,  1670,  proved  May  3,  1670  by  the,  witnesses  Lif tenant  Frances 
Pabodie  and  John  How:  To  son  Thomas,  feather  bed  and  bolster  and 
iron  pot,  great  timber  chain  and  spanshackle ;  to  son  Ephram  rug  and 
three  blankets,  two  little  pots,  tramill,  draft  chains ;  wearing  apparel 
to  cousin  Daniell  Bradley;  to  son  Thomas,  all  household  stuff,  half 
the  land  in  Rowley,  land  bought  of  Mr.  Symonds,  etc.,  sheep,  horse 
and  bullocks ;  to  son  Ephraim,  half  the  Rowley  land,  all  land  given 
him  by  Ipswich,  land  bought  of  Evan  Morice,  sheep  and  bullocks. 
Debts  for  work  were  due  him  from  John  Warner,  Thamas  Day,  Robert 
Styles,  Thomas  Hobbs,  John  Morall,  William  Smith,  Micall  Donnill, 
Mathew  Stanlye  and  Goodman  Biggsbye.  He  owed  Goodman  Biggs- 
j  bye,  William  White  of  Ipswich  and   Robert  Colborne ;  son  Thomas, 

executor.     [Original  on  file  in  the  Registry  of  Probate.] — May  3,  1670. 

Ensign  John  Gould  served  on  the  grand  jury  and  Edward  Towne  on 
the  jury  of  trials  at  Ipswich,  Sept.  27,  1670. 

Ensign  John  Gould  had  his  license  to  sell  cider  and  liquors  renewed 
until  the  March  court,  but  not  to  suffer  townsmen  to  drink  liquors  in 
his  house.— -Sept.  27,  1670. 

Tho.  Perkins  of  Topsfield  was  released  from  training,  paying  6s. 
yearly  to  the  use  of  the  company. — Sept.  27,  1670. 


78  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

Ens.  John  Gould  was  allowed  costs  in  an  action  brought  by  Edw. 
Bridges  and  not  prosecuted. — Sept.  27,  1670. 

John  How  served  on  the  grand  jury  at  Salem,  Nov.  29,  1670. 

John  Goold  v.  Edmond  Bridges.  For  not  fulfilling  a  bargain  in  sett- 
ing his  hand  to  a  deed  of  sale  of  land.  Verdict  for  plaintiff.  Said 
Bridges  was  to  sign  the  deed  of  the  house  and  land  in  Topsfeild  or 
pay  said  Gould  1501i. 

Writs,  dated  Sept.  29,  1670,  signed  by  Robert  Lord,  for  the  court, 
and  served  by  Robert  Lord,  marshal  of  Ipswich,  who  committed  Ed- 
mon  Bridges  to  prison.  Bond  of  Thomas  White,  Walter  Fayerfield 
and  William  Beale. 

John  Gould's  bills  of  cost,  Hi.  9s.  8d.,  and  41i.  10s.  2d. 

Isack  Estey  acknowledged  that  he  received  in  April,  1669,  from 
John  Goold,  five  pounds  for  Edman  Bridges.  Wit:  John  How  and 
Even  (his  mark)  Moris. 

Judgment  in  this  action. 

John  Newmarch's  receipt,  dated  25 :  9 :  1670,  to  John  Gould  for 
the  use  of  Edmon  Bridges,  jr.,  for  eight  pounds. 

John  Numarch  deposed.  Sworn,  Nov.  25,  1670,  before  Daniel  Den- 
ison. 

William  Browne's  receipt,  dated  July  23,  1669,  to  Mr.  Jno.  Goold 
of  Topsfeld,  for  301i.  17s..  9d.,  for  a  debt  that  Edmand  Bridges  owed 
him. 

Thomas  Bishop  testified  that  he  having  a  bill  of  Edmund  Bridges, 
sr.,  and  the  latter  not  paying  him,  deponent  sent  an  attachment  to 
him.  Then  he  came  and  had  John  Gold  engage  to  pay  this  debt. 
Sworn,  Nov.  26,  1670,  before  Daniel  Denison. 

An  accompt  of  what  is  paid  to  Edmond  Bridges:  to  Capt.  Currell, 
281i.  8s.  6d.;  to  Mr.  Will.  Browne,  sr.,  301L  17s.  9d. ;  to  Mr.  Buship, 
61i.  10s. ;  to  John  Newmarsh,  81i.  4s. ;  Isack  Estick,  51i, ;  total,  791i.  3d. 

Copy  of  deed,  dated  Dec.  9,  1670,  from  Edmond  Bridges  of  Salem, 
blacksmith,  to  Ensign  John  Gould  of  Topsfield,  yeoman,  eight  acres, 
with  a  dwelling  house  and  barn  in  Topsfeild  bounded  on  the  north- 
east by  land  of  Thomas  Perkins,  sr.,  east  or  south  east  by  land  of 
Jacob  Townes,  west  or  southwest  by  land  now  in  the  possession  of 
John  Robinson  and  south  by  land  of  Edrnond  Townes ;  also  a  parcel 
of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Ipswich  river  Of  about  ten  acres,  bounded 
by  the  river  on  the  northeast,  common  land  of  Topsfeild  on  all  other 
sides;  said  Gould  having  had  possession  of  the  land  since  1668.  Wit: 
Thomas  White  and  Walter  Fayerfield.  Acknowledged,  10 :  10 :  1670, 
before  William  Hathorn,  assistant.  Recorder,  14 :  10 :  1670,  in  Salem 
in  book  3,  folio,  101,  by  Hilliard  Veren,  recorder. 

Philip  Welch  deposed  that  last  winter  he  went  with  Ens.  John 
Gould  to  the   house  of  Isack  Estick,   and  Edmond  Bridges  came  in, 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  79 

who  falling  into  discourse  with  Jacob  Townes  and  Isack  Estick  about 
getting  clapboards  for  his  house,  not  knowing  where  to  get  them, 
desired  Ens.  John  Gould  to  let  him  get  them  upon  his  division.  De- 
ponent asked  if  the  division  were  his  or  Ens.  Gould's  to  which  Bridges 
replied  that  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  it.     Sworn  in  court. 

James  Hanscomb  deposed  that  Edmond  Bridges  asked  him  to  write 
a  deed  of  sale  for  the  house  and  land  in  Topsfeeld,  etc.  Sworn  in 
court. 

Thomas  Perkins,  John  Robinson,  Even  Moris  and  John  How  de- 
posed.    Sworn  in  court. 

Walter. Fayerf eld,  aged  about  thirty-eight  years,  deposed.  Sworn 
in  court. 

Deed,  dated  Mar.  1,  1668-9,  from  Edmond  Bridges  [no  signature] 
of  Salem,  blacksmith,  for  751L,  to  John  Gould  of  Topsfeeld.  Lot 
bounded  as  in  deed  dated  Dec.  9,  1670.  William  (his  mark)  Towne, 
Joseph  (his  mark)  Towne,  Johanah  (her  mark)  Towne  and  Pheby 
(her  mark)  Towne  surrendered  their  interest  in  the  premises.  [No 
witnesses.] 

Thomas  Backer  deposed  that  Bridges  said  if  Ens.  Gould  would 
come  down  to  Salem  he  would  sign  the  deed,  but  when  he  came,  said 
Bridges  refused  unless  he  would  give  him  forty  shillings  more.  Sworn 
in  court. 

Edmond  Bridges  of  Topsfeild,  on  Apr.  4,  1668,  acknowledged  a 
debt  of  31i.  15s.  to  John  Gould,  to  be  paid  in  money  or  wheat  at  money 
price,  delivered  at  Ipswich,  and  to  allow  the  freight  to  Boston.  Bond 
of  Hackaliah  Bridges,  his  brother.  Wit :  John  How  and  John  Perkins. 
Sworn  in  court. 

Even  Moris  deposed  that  he  saw  Bridges  give  Gould  possession  by 
turf  and  twig  before  witnesses,  previous  to  said  Bridges  removal  to 
Salem.     Sworn  in  court.   ' 

Thomas  Perkins  deposed  that  he  was  at  the  house  when  Bridges 
was  removing  to  Salem,  and  saw  him  deliver  the  key  to  Gould,  after 
all  were  out  of  the  house.     Sworn  in  court. 

John  Robenson  testified.     Sworn  in  court. 

John  How  deposed  that  Bridges  sold  his  house  to  pay  debts  which 
deponent  saw  Ensine  Gould  engage  to  Captain  Corwin,  etc.  Sworn 
in  court. 

Robert  Lord,  jr.,  deposed.     Sworn  in  court. — Nov.  29,  1670. 

John  Gould  v.  Ed.  Bridges.     Debt.     Verdict  for  plaintiff. 

Edmond  Bridges  v.  John  Goold.  Verdict  for  defendant. — Nov.  29, 
1670. 

Writ :  Edmond  Bridges  v.  John  Goold  ;  for  not  paying  six  pounds 
to  Mr.  William  Symonds  on  his  behalf;  dated  Sept  28,  1670;  signed 


80  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

by  Tho.  Fiske,  for  the  court;  and  served  by  Henery  Skerry,  marshal 
of  Salem.     Bond  of  John  Gould. 

John  Gould's  bill  of  cost,  6s. 

Mr.  Willaum  Simons  and  Robart  Lord,  marshal,  deposed  that  they 
heard  John  Gould  promise  to  pay  said  Simons  to  satisfy  the  execution, 
etc.     Sworn  in  court. — Nov.  29,  1670. 

Mr.  Simond  Bradstreet  v.  Ed.  Bridges.  Debt.  Verdict  for  plain- 
tiff. The  two  parcels  of  iron  at  27s.  6d.  were  not  included  in  the 
damages. 

Writ,  dated  Sept.  27,  1670,  signed  by  Robert  Lord,  for  the  court, 
and  served  by  Robert  Lord,  marshal  of  Salem.  Bond  of  Edmond 
Bridges,  with  Jeramiah  Getchall,  surety. 

Agreement  of  Edmond  Bridges  of  Topsfield,  blacksmith,  with  Mr. 
Symon  Bradstreet  of  Andover,  dated  26  :  2  :  1664  ;  said  Bridges  hired 
of  said  Bradstreet  a  pair  of  smith's  bellows  and  anvil  for  one  year  from 
Sept.  29  last  past  and  so  long  after  as  said  Simon  should  be  willing 
to  spare  them,  for  15s.  per  year,  in  such  iron  wares  as  he  desired  or 
in  wheat  at  Ipswich  and  to  return  the  bellows  and  anvil  in  good  re- 
pair ;  also  whereas  Bridges  was  to  receive  71i.  of  Goodman  Easty  by 
order  of  said  Simon,  he  promised  to  pay  in  corn  or  iron  work  at  2s. 
9d.  a  year  for  what  he  should  receive  for  the  space  of  two  years  from 
May  1st  next,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  to  pay  the  principle  at  Ips- 
wich in  wheat  or  barley  or  good  young  cattle  not  exceeding  seven 
years  old,  at  Andover.  Wit :  Richard  Hubberd  and  Symon  Brad- 
street, jr. 

Edmond  Bridges'  account,  Nov.  1670 :  for  7  yeares  hire  of  a  pair 
of  bellowes  &  Andvile  at  15s.  p.  year,  51i.  5s. ;  for  soe  much  reed  of 
Goodman  Easty  by  my  order,  71i. ;  for  2  years  allowance  as  by  agree- 
mt,  ending  May  1,  1666,  Hi.  8s.;  for  4  yeares  forbearance  since,  att 
8  pcent,  21i.  4s. ;  for  Iron  rec.  upon  my  bill  of  Mr.  Purchas,  21i.  10s. ; 
31i.  Spanish  Iron  to  his  father  to  make  nayles  for  ye  tyre,  7s.  6d. ;  total 
181i.  14s.  6d.  This  21i.  17s.  6d.  in  these  tow  last  lines  the  Jury  did 
not  take  in  to  or  verdit  for  want  of  proff.  Credr.  For  8  pr.  of  hooke 
&  eyes  about,  12s.;  4  hoopes,  241b.  att  6d.,  12s.;  streekes  for  Cart 
wheeles,  waighing  1731b.  &  115  nayles  waighing  171b.  in  all  1901i.  at 
6d.,  41b.  15s. ;  for  4  axes  att  sevuall  tymes,  16s. ;  for  shoeing  my 
horse,  Is. ;  total,  61i.  16s.  "I  had  2  more  axes  of  him,  one  of  them 
was  returned  againe  the  other  hee  was  pd.  for  in  bacon. — Nov.  29, 
1670. 

Births,  marriages  and  deaths  for  Topsfield  in  1670,  returned  by 
John  Redington,  clerk : 

Thomas  Dorman,  sr.,  died  Apr.  25. 

Thomas,  son  of  John  and  Mary  Death,  born  May  21. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  and  Elisabeth  Perkins,  born  June  21. 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  81 

Thomas,  s.  Isack  and  Mary  Cummings,  born  June  27. 

Thomas  Andrews  and  Martha  Antrome,  married  June  22. 

Thomas,  son  of  Thomas  and  Judeth  Dorman,  born  Aug.  14. 

Thomas,  son  of  John  and  Hana  Pabody,  born  July  22. 

Michaell,  son  of  Michaell  and  Mary  Dwenell,  born  Dec.  5. 

Susana,  d.  Michaell  and  Sarah  Bouden,  born  June  10. 

Hanah,  d.  Daniell  and  Hanah  Bourman,  born  Feb.  18. 

Sarah,  d.  Robert  and  Mary  Smith,  born  June  25. 

Samuel  Howlet  and  Sarah  Clarke,  married  Jan.  3.. 

Edmond  Towne  served  on  the  grand  jury  and  Isaack  Estye  on  the 
jury  of  trials  at  Ipswich,  Mar.  28,  1671. 

Edmond  Bridges  v.  John  Newmarsh.  Debt.  Verdict  for  plaintiff ; 
said  Bridges  was  to  answer  Milton's  judgment. 

Writ,  dated  Mar.  20,  1670-71,  signed  by  Hilliard  Veren,  for  the 
court,  and  served  by  Henery  Skerry,  marshal  of  Salem,  by  attachment 
of  land  near  the  house  of  defendant. 

Edward  Bridges'  bill  of  cost,  21i.  Is.  8d. 

John  Newmarsh,  Dr.,  26:  9:  1660,  to  22  Bo.  1-2  wheat,  51i.  12s. 
6d. ;  10  Bo.  Ind.  Corne,  Hi.  10s. ;  Apr.,  1662,  to  an  Ax  &cheine,  14s. ; 
to  soe  much  of  Jno.  Goold,  81i.  4s. ;  to  a  Bagg,  6s. ;  total  161i.  6s.  6d. 
Creditor,  9  bu.  1660,  By  3  C.  of  Barr  Iron,  31i.  12s. ;  14  Bo.  Coale,  Hi. 
12s.  6d. 

John  Newmarsh  certified,  25 :  9 :  1670,  that  he  received  of  John 
Goold  for  the  use  of  Edmond  Bridges,  jr.,  81i.  4s.  He  further  deposed 
that  Edmond  Bridges,  jr.,  told  him  that  he  had  sold  all  the  land  and 
housing  of  said  Bridges  in  Topsfield,  to  Goold,  etc.  Sworn,  25  :  9 : 
1670,  before  Daniell  Denison.     Copy  made  by  Hilliard  Veren,  cleric. 

Daniel  Clark  deposed  that  Bridges  carried  wheat  and  Indian  corn 
down  to  John  Newmarch  about  the  time  that  the  latter  brought  iron 
from  said  Newmarch.     Sworn  in  court. 

Jacob  Town  deposed.     Sworn  in  court. 

Robert  Lord,  jr.,  deposed  that  Christipher  Milton  gave  him  an  ex- 
ecution to  levy  upon  Edmond  Brigis  and  as  he  was  proceeding  to  do 
so,  on  the  way  to  Topsfield,  he  met  "old  father  Gould"  who  told  him 
to  go  back,  for  his  son  John  had  engaged  to  pay  it.  They  came  to 
Baker's  house  and  met  with  John  Newmarch  who  said  "how  do  I 
know  wether  my  Brother  John  will  pay  itt,"  etc.     Sworn  in  court. 

Robert  Peares,  aged  about  sixty  years,  deposed  that  he  was  at  Bos- 
ton, 16  :  9:  1660,  when  John  Newmarch  bought  500  weight  of  iron 
and  half  a  cauldron  of  coals,  which  deponent  brought  home  in  his 
bark,  etc.     Sworn  in  court. 

John  Gould  deposed  that  Edward  Bridges  ordered  him  to  pay  to 
deponent's  brother  Numarch  the  judgment  that  Cristofer  Miltone  had 
against   him  and   he  would   consider  it  as  part  of  pay  for  the  house 


82  COURT  RECORDS   RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

and  land  that  deponent  bought  of  him,  etc.     Sworn  in  court. — Mar. 
28,  1671. 

Ensign  Gould  had  his  license  renewed  for  a  year. — Mar.  28,  1671. 

Court  ordered  that  John  French  take  what  Mr.  Gilbert  was  assigned 
to  pay  upon  his  presentment. — Mar.  28,  1671. 

Mr.  Thomas  Gilbert,  complained  of  for  many  reproachful  and  re- 
viling speeches  against,  the  court  and  divers  other  persons,  his  au- 
ditors, both  in  his  sermons  and  prayers  and  at  other  times,  court  or- 
dered that  he  be  sharply  admonished  to  forbear  to  vent  his  distemper 
to  the  scandal  of  persons  and  dishonor  of  God  and  profanation  of  his 
ordinances.  Further,  if  he  should  find  himself  unable  to  demean 
himself  more  soberly  and  Christianlike,  as  becomes  his  office,  they 
"do  thinke  it  more  convenient  for  him  to  surcease  from  ye  exercise 
of  any  publick  imployment." 

Complaint  of  John  Gould,  dated  Sept.  27, 1671,  against  Mr.  Thomas 
Gilbert  of  Topsfield :  "Impri.  that  ye  23  of  Apriell  haueing  bin  by  ye 
Court  Censured  for  sundery  miscarriages,  to  which  censure  religon, 
yea  reson  mite  haue  perswaided  a  wise  man  to  have  submited,  and  to 
haue  let  his  infamy  haue  died  by  degrees :  Yet  not  content  with  ye 
Courts  sentence,  hee  by  papers  affixed  to  ye  meting  hous  doore,  de- 
serted his  office,  left  ye  Congretion  and  Church  for  three  saboths  des- 
titute, refussed  to  Com  to,  or  tosufer  ye  Church  to  come  to  treat  with 
him  about  his  disorderly  abdicasion  of  his  ministry  :  vnles  the  Church 
would  Ingage  to  take  off  from  him  ye  odium  of  ye  Courts  sentence 
which,  hee  said  rendered  him  a  scandalous  person :  and  unlesse  ye 
Church  would  subscribe  to  a  wrighting,  testifeing  that  thay  neuer  hard 
him  speake  againts  Athority,  which,  with  a  good  Conscience  many  of  ye 
Church  could  not  doe  21y  he  has,  oft  since  that  time,  upbraided  ye 
Church,  and  others,  with  Complaing  againts  him  to  ye  Court,  for  toyes, 
and  trifles  :  things  not  worth  taking  notice  of ;  by  which  words  wee 
Conceiue  him  to  haue  blemisht  ye  Court  allso  who  for  thoss  toyes  sen- 
tencesd  him  so  seuerely,  as  hee  Complains  of  31y  in  ye  pulpit,  frequent- 
ly vindicates  himselfe  as  Innocent,  both  in  preaching,  and  prayers, 
as  if  persecuted  for  doeing  nothing,  but.  designing  ye  Glory  of  god, 
and  salvation  of  our  soules  Laying  ye  fait  of  his  irregular  actings  on 
ye  Church,  but  not  proueing  in  vs  any  fault  but  tirannically  threaten- 
ing us  from  out  of  ye  pulpit,  with  complaining  to  authority  again  ik 
them  that  desier  him  to  shew  them  how  ye  Church  was  in  fait  and 
imperiously  Commanding  them  silence  yea  such  silence  that  they 
neuer  speaks  word  publiquely  more. 

"41y  nameth  some  of  his  opposites  by  their  proper  names,  to  ye 
making  of  them  a  Reproach  to  sume  Ignorant  ones:  naming  them 
John,  Thomas,  Thomas,  John,  apon  pretence  of  A  ministeriall  power 
so  to  doe:  51y  After  many  shuch  prouocations  and  prophanations  of 


COURT  RECORDS   RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  83 

ye  Lords  day  and  ordinances,  not  a  pointed  to  giue  ministers  oppor- 
tunity to  vent  their,  malice  a  gaints  their  hearears,  but  to  indeauor 
theiar  Conuertions,  and  saluation  :  hee  tel  vs  plainly  that  as  hee  hath 
done  So  hee  will  doe :  and  if  wee  meane  to  haue  him  for  our  minister 
wee  know  what  wee  must  trust  to. These,  and  Innumerable  such  Like, 
put  vs  out  of  all  hope  of  obtaining  peace,  or  of  attaining  his  amend- 
ment, and  ye  furtherance  of  gods  Glory,  and  our  Saluation  Yor  wor- 
ships petitioner  therefore  Humbely  Requests  Yor  Worps  Justice,  for  ye 
Freeing  of  vs  from  such  an  intolerable  burden,  and  vexation."  Wit : 
Mr.  Will.  Perkines,  Thomas  Baker  and  John  Commings.  Wm.  Perkins, 
sr.,  and  Thomas  Baker  were  ready  to  depose  the  same,  if  called. 
Sworn  in  court. 

Court's  judgment :  "wee  are  very  sorry  that  our  advice  to  mr  Gil- 
bert the  Last  court  at  Ipswich  hath  not  beene  attended  &  cannot  but 
take  notice  upon  this  occasion  of  the  complaint  of  his  two  great  pro- 
pensity to  exceede  the  bounds  of  sobriety  especially  in  a  minister  and 
that  in  his  sermons  to  vindicate  &  justify  himselfe  wth  prouking  re- 
flections upon  others  and  therefore  cannot  but  this  second  time  reit- 
erate our  advice  and  admonition,"  etc. 

The  complaint  of  Tho.  Gilbert,  the  minister  of  Topsfield  in  behalf 
of  the  country  against  Sara, Gold,  wife  of  Ensigne  Gold  of  Topsfeild: 
"The  complainant  hath  long  born  in  his  breast,  the  rash,  and  unadvised 
Oath  of  Goodi  Gold,  wc  shee  took  in  this  honored  Court,  in  May  last, 
1670,  and  hath  lamented  befor  God :  and  wc  (w*  some  other  things) 
did  occasion  your  complainant  to  declare  against  lying,  slandering, 
and  rash  swearing,  befor  Magistrats :  God  knoweth  I  was  afraied  by 
by  sinful  silence  to  partake  of  other  mens  sines :  I  had  put  in  this 
complaint  befor  this  tyme,  had  I  considered  that  the  oath  I  took  when 
I  was  made  a  free  man  bound  me  to  it,  wc  I  never  thought  of,  til 
lately  a  friend  of  myn  told  me,  that  I  was  bound  to  bring  forth  the 
truth  light :  so  that  now  I  can  no  longer  forbear :  Ther  are  two  things 
I  would  intreat  your  Worships  befor  any  sentence  passe  against  me : 
first  to  compair  hir  Oath,  wt  the  Oath  of  Goodie  perkins,  taken  att 
the  same  tym,  and  if  they  do  not  clash  one  against  another,  I  am 
much  mistaken :  secondly  that  you  would  take  the  paines  seriously 
to  compair  hir  oath  wt_  the  depositions  of  such  as  are  alreadie  sworen 
in  behalfe  of  the  country,  especialy  that  then  satt  next  me,  and  ob- 
served my  cariage  then,  as  they  themselues  confesse :  And  I  desyre 
your  Worships  would  take  myn  owen  oath,  and  deposition  in  behalfe 
of  the  country  if  you  think  fitt,  and  then  do  as  the  Lord  shall  per- 
swade  your  hearts." 

Sara  Gilbert's  testimony  for  the  country  against  Sara  Gould : 
"Whearas  Goody  Gould  in  the  begining  of  May  last :  took  a  wicked 
false  oth,  against  Mr  Gilbert  as  tho  he  was  drunk  with  the  sacrament 


84  COURT   RECORDS   RELATING   TO   TOPSFIELD. 

wine,  I  know  and  can  safly  take  my  oth  in  behalf  of  the  country  that 
she  wronged  him  greviously  in  sundry  perticlars  I  tould  her  (after  I 
heard  the  paper  read  in  court)  to  take  heed  how  she  swore  to  that 
paper,  and  she  frowned  upon  me ;  and  went  straight  to  swear  whear- 
upon,  I  (allmost  trembling)  cried  out  (as  some  may  remember)  to  the 
magistrats  beseching  them  not  to  put  her  to  swear  knowing  certainly 
that  it  was  false  and  that  his  distemper  then  upon  him  was  not  with 
drinking ;  it  hath  taken  him  somtims  when  fasting,  somtimes  with 
could  geting  or  befor  rainy  weather,  being  much  spent  in  good  work  : 
I  am  sory  that  not  only  he  but  the  country  is  much  abused  by  fals 
reports :  I  know  its  the  first  time  he  had  the  Cup  in  his  hand,  he  did 
not  drink  any  at  all,  when  the  Cup  had  gon  about,  it  came  to  me, 
with  2  or  3  spoonfulls  at  most  which  wer  all  that  Mr  Gilbert  drunk. 
I  saw  it :  and  also  she  swore  that  he  sunk  doun  in  his  Chair,  and 
looked  dim  with  eyes,  all  wc  with  his  stumbling  as  he  went  to  the 
meeting,  is  utterly  fals :  I  followed  him,  and  Thomas  Perkins  all  the 
way  we  saw  no  such  thing.  Mr  Gilbert  is  well  knowen  by  sorne  in 
New-England  &  never  to  have  .been  inclined  to  the  sine  of  drunkenes, 
but  to  have  lived  soberly  and  godly-ly,  as  his  certificate  do  witness." 
Sworn,  13  :  2 :  1671,  before  Wm.  Hathorne,  assistant. 

Old  Johannah  Towne,  deposed,  in  behalf  of  the  country,  that  "I 
was  att  dinner  att  Mter  Gilberts  table,  that  sacrament  day  he  was  dis- 
tempered, and  sat  next  to  him  on  his  right  hand,  and  though  some 
report  that  he  drank  too  much  of  the  sacrament  wyn :  then,  and  that 
therupon  that  his  eyes  grew  dimm  and  that  he  sank  doune  in  his 
chair,  yet  I  beleeve  he  is  wronged,  for  I  that  then  sat  next  him,  saw 
no  such  matter :  the  cup  is  but  little,  and  was  not  ful  att  first,  and  I 
am  sure  that  I  dranke  some  of  it  and  that  it  went  round  to  others : 
And  I  can  saifly  take  my  oath  that  though  our  minister  had  the  cup 
twyce  in  his  hand,  yit  the  first  tyme  he  drank  not  one  drop  of  it,  but 
gave  it  out  of  his  hand  to  Thomas  Perkins,  bidding  him  give  it  to  me, 
for  I  needed  it  mor  then  he,  being  older,  when  the  cup  had  gone 
about,  it  came  into  his  hand  the  second  tym,  and  I  am  surether  could 
not  be  much  in  it  then  (it  may  be  two  or  three  spoon-ful)  and  that  he 
drank  so  far  as  I  saw,  att  the  table  att  dinner,  he  was  moderat  both 
in  eating  and  drinking  and  knew  what  he  sayed  and  did,  and  this  I 
can  saifly  testifie  upon  Oath."  Sworn,  18 :  2 :  1671,  before  Wm. 
Hathorne,  assistant. 

John  Gould  deposed  that  soon  after  mr  Gilbert  come  from  the  Court 
from  ancring  to  this  presentment  that  he  did  say  in  sarmon  that  thay 
yt  sat  to  Judge  would  say  et  was  the  scotties  blod  and  ye  scoties  fumes 
that  fumed  up  into  his  head,  and  if  ye  godly  did  speake  for  them 
selues  what  doe  yu  threat  the  Court  but  if  euer  thay  doe  Come  to 
heauen  thay  shall  bles  god  that  euer  thay  did  see  ye  Scot  man  and 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  85 

this  I  did  vnderstand  to  be  in  refarence  to  ye  Court :  and  the  rest  of 
ye  heads  as  et  is  wrightten  in  ye  Complaint  to  ye  beast  of  my  remem- 
brance there  is  nothing  in  ye  Complaint  but  what  I  haue  hard  in  the 
pulpit  one  the  Saboth  dayes  touching  the  charges  Consarning  the 
men  of  ye'  world  I  did  vnderstand  et  to  be  the  Court  becase  I  did  not 
know  any  eles  that  did  Judge  or  Condeme  further  this  deponent  saith 
yt  mr  Gilbert  did  use  the  words  of  being  gaged  at  that  time  after  he 
came  from  the  court  when  he  spake  of  Scottich  blood  &  scottich 
Fumes."  Sworn  in  court  by  deponent  and  Sarah  Gould. — Mar.  28, 
1671. 

Will  of  Tho.' Browning  was  proved  by  oath  of  Mr.  Joseph  Grafton 
and  Leift.  George  Gardner,  and  an  inventory  brought  in  by  the  wid- 
ow was  allowed. 

Will  of  Thomas  (his  mark)  Browning,  of  Salem,  dated  Feb.  16, 
1670,  "being  sicke  in  bodie  yett  of  pfit  vnderstand  ing  :  "Imprimus  I 
doe  apoint  my  wife  to  bee  my  whole  Exceutres  And  doe  giue  vnto 
my  grandchild  Thomas  Towne  twenty  two  pounds :  which  twelue 
pownds  is  in  the  hands  of  her  father  &  ten  pounds  is  in  the  hands  of 
his  Uncle  Jacob  Towne :  to  be  paid  to  the  sd  Thomas  Towne  afore- 
said when  he  come  to  be  twentie  &  one  yeares  of  Age : 

"Itam  I  giue  After  my  wifes  deseace  All  my  land  and  housing  at 
topsfeild,  to  my  daughter  towne  her  husband  &  my  daughter  Simons 
to  be  disposed  by  the  two  daughters  abousd  to  Children  of  there 
owne  bodies  Laufully  begotton  Itam  to  my  daugher  Willyams  & 
daughter  Meachum  And  there  husbands  All  my  Land  &  howsing  at 
Salem,  After  my  wifes  deseace  as  aboue  is  Exsprest  And  after  there 
deseace  to  the  Children  Laufully  begoten  of  there  owne  bodies  as 
abouesaid,  And  If  anie  of  my  daughters  should  die  without  Issew  : 
Then  the  estat  to  be  deuided  among  The  children  of  my  daughters 
siruiuing  And  If  my  wife  should  dy  without  a  will,  then  whatsoeuer 
is  Left  to  be  deuided  betwin  my  fower  daughters  or  their  Chilldren." 
Wit :  Joseph  Grafton,  sr.,  and  George  Gardner.  Overseers,  Mr.  Henry 
Bartholmew,  Georg  Gardner  and  Joseph  Grafton,  sr. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Browning,  late  deceased,  in 
Salem :  House  &  80  acres  or  upland,  About  twenty  Acers  of  medow 
In  Topsfeild,  16011. ;  cattle,  7011. ;  A  house  &  two  Acer  lott  &  fifeteene 
Acres  of  upland,  &  three  Acers  of  medow  in  Salem,  1601L;  A  bed  & 
bedstead,  lOli. ;  six  p  of  sheets,  51i.;  pillebers  &  table  lining,  21i.; 
wearing  Clothes,  51i. ;  thre  Chests  &  A  box,  Hi. ;  1  small  Table  &  1 
trundle  bedstead  &  Chears,  15s. ;  puter,  30s. ;  spoones,  siluer  &  t  in, 
20s. ;  A  smaU'wine  cup,  5s. ;  4  kettels  &  1  pott,  21i.  15s. ;  1  skellet& 
2  bras  Candlesticks,  10s. ;  1  spitt,  tongs  &  fire  shouels  &  2  hakes  & 
old  Iron,  Hi.  10s.;  warming  pan  &  two  bibles,  Hi.  6.;  1  mare  &  1 
Cow,  71i.;  debts,  151i.;  debts  owing,  31i,— June  27,  1671. 


86  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING   TO  TOPSFIELD. 

Court  having  heard  of  the  complaint  against  Sergt.  Joseph  Bigshee 
and  Abraham  Reddington  for  neglect  in  attending  common  train- 
ings at  Topsfeild,  they  were  fined.  The  rest  of  the  company  who 
did  exempt  themselves  from  training  ''were  to  be  left  to  the  clerk  of 
the  bond,  whoe  according  to  his  oath  is  to  take  theire  seuerall  fines, 
according  to  law."  John  Goold  was  allowed  8s.  for  his  charges,  half 
from  the  fines  and  half  from  the  fines  of  the  company. — June  27, 
1671. 

Upon  a  motion  made  by  the  selectmen  of  Salem  to  this  court 
concerning  the  settling  of  a  highway  between  Andever  and  Salem, 
they  affirming  that  they  had  found  out  a  nearer  and  better  way  than 
formerly,  court  ordered  that  there  be  appointed  some  men  of  Salem 
to  meet  with  some  men  of  Andever  appointed  thereunto,  at  or  near 
the  new  way  by  Ipswich  river,  the  sixth  day  of  the  next  week  about 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  If  there  should  be  a  convenient  way 
then  found  to  the  acceptance  of  Andever  men,  then  the  said  way  be 
made  good  and  sufficient  to  the  river  with  a  bridge  over  the  said  river, 
except  that  part  which  lay  in  Topsfeild  bounds,  which  they  were  to 
make  good  but  not  obliged  to  keep  in  repair  afterwards,  before  the 
next  Salem  court  upon  penalty  of  lOli.  If  a  way  should  not  be  found, 
then  Salem  men  were  to  make  good  their  part  of  the  highway. 

Petition  to  the  General  Court  from  the  selectmen  of  Salem,  signed 
by  William  Brown,  Henry  Bartholomew,  Wm.  Browne,  jr.,  Wm. 
Hathorne,  John  Porter  and  Joseph  Grafton :  That  the  present  high- 
way as  laid  out  is  very  unequal  with  respect  to  the  town  of  Salem ; 
that  they  had  long  spoken  with  their  neighbors  of  Andover  about 
finding  a  better  way,  but  had  been  prevented  the  past  two  summers 
by  unseasonable  rains ;  that  Salem  had  been  fined  and  was  likely  to 
be  fined  again  for  the  way,  and  that  the  new  way  they  proposed  was 
shorter,  cheaper  to  maintain,  "having  as  wee  conceiue  Aboue  A  hun- 
dred rodd  of  meadow  &  Swamp  in  not  much  more  then  two  myles 
&  some  of  it  very  deep."  They  ask  that  a  committee  be  appointed 
to  see  it  done.— June  27,  1671. 

Writ:  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreete  v.  Willm.  Evens;  debt;  dated  6:4: 
1671;  signed  by  Jonath.  Negus,  for  the  court;  and  served  by  Rich. 
Wayte,  marshal  of  Suffolk.  Bond  of  William  (his  mark)  Evans  and 
John  Tapping.— June  27,  1671. 

John  Redington  served  on  the  grand  jury  and  John  Howe  on  the 
jury  of  trials  at  Ipswich,  Sept.  26,  1671. 

Mr.  Thomas  Gilbert  v.  John  Gould.  For  threatening  him  or  as- 
saulting him.     Verdict  for  plaintiff. 

Mr.  Thomas  Gilbert  v.  Ens.  John  Gould.  For  Sarah  Gould  defam- 
ing him.     Verdict  for  defendant. 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  87 

Ens.  John  Gould,  in  behalf  of  his  wife  v.  Mr.  Thomas  Gilbert,  in 
behalf  of  his  wife.     Slander.     Verdict  for  plaintiff. 

Writ,  dated  20:  7:  1671,  signed  by  John  Redington,  for  the  court 
and  served  by  Daniell  Borman,  constable  of  Topsfield. 

Writ,  dated  Sept.  19,  1671,  signed  by  Robert  Lord,  for  the  court, 
and  served  by  Robert  Lord,  marshal  of  Ipswich. 

John  Gould's  bills  of  cost,  21i.  16s.  6d.,  3]i,  2s.  6d.,  and  31i.  18s. 

Copies  of  depositions  in  this  case,  May  3,  1670,  at  Ipswich  court, 
made  by  Robert  Lord,  cleric. 

Thomas  Baker  and  John  Cumings  deposed.     Sworn  in  court. 

John  How  deposed  that  one  Sabbath  day  this  summer  Mr.  Gilbert 
was  reading  the  "one  and  thurty  salme,"  and  when  he  reached  the 
eightenth  verse  or  thereabouts,  he  looked  toward  Sarah  Gould  and 
put  forth  his  hand  and  book.  Also  he  said  in  sermon,  "I  must  not 
say  Christ  died  a  damd  dath  but  I  must  be  corted  for  it  but  whan  I 
came  to  the  godle  wise  at  boston  thay  clered  me."     Sworn  in  court. 

Edmond  Bridges  and  Lues  Hews  deposed  that  they  heard  Ensigne 
Gould  say  that  if  Mr.  Gilbert  did  not  stop  lying  about  him  in  the  pul- 
pit, he  was  resolved  to  have  his  tongue  cut  or  clipped,  etc.  Sworn 
in  court. 

Tho.  Perkings,  sr.,  deposed  that  he  offered  Mr.  Gilbert  a  cup  of 
wine,  which  he  at  first  refused,  but  afterwards  took  it  and  said, 
"Thomas  I  will  drinke  to  the  and  do  you  drink  to  this  ould  woman 
she  hath  more  need  of  it  than  I,"  etc.     Sworn  in  court. 

Obadiah  Bridges  deposed.     Sworn  in  court. 

Thomas  Baker,  Edmon  Towne  and  John  Cumings  deposed  that  Mr. 
Perkins,  desiring  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  supper  before  his  going  to 
England,  Mr.  Gilbert  asked  him  to  withdraw  and  he  would  try  the 
church's  mind  to  see  if  they  were  willing.  The  major  part  gave  their 
consent  by  vote,  yet  he  did  not  call  Mr.  Perkins  in  but  the  latter 
coming  in,  Mr.  Gilbert's  answer  was  that  the  church  was  not  willing. 
Sworn  in  court. 

Philip  Wells  [Welch?],  aged  about  thirty-five  years,  deposed. 
Sworn  in  court. 

Wm.  Perkins  aged  about  sixty-four  years,  deposed  that  Aug.  29, 
1669,  when  old  Goodman  Comins  reproved  Mr.  Gilbert  for  the  way 
he  conducted  the  service,  he  said  that  if  he  did  not  like  it  he  could  sit 
by  and  be  silent.  "Mr.  Gilbert  ran  out  most  bitterly,  telling  us  yfc 
Wee  were  ye  basest,  &  unworthiest  people  y*  ever  hee  Came  amongst 
&  yl  hee  wd  preach  to  us  no  more  .  .  .  none  interrupted  him  saving 
ye  Liu1  Poebody  wm  some  vehemency  rusht  out  of  his  seate  &  depted 
.'\  .  yn  hee  came  downe  &  reasoning  at  ye  Table  end  wm  &  Com- 
plaining to  Ens.  Gould,  bro.  John  Reddington,  &  bro :  Tho :  Baker, 
hee  wd  not  be  psvvaded  yl  hee  had  prayed  or  offered   to  sing  twice," 


88  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

until  his  wife  came  at  whose  request  he  departed.  The  next  Sabbath 
making  his  apology  for  his  actions  he,  "imputed  all  to  ye  weather — 
its  unseasonablenesse  &  to  4  distempers  wch  ye  weeke  before  had 
dogd  him,"  etc.— Sept.  26,  1671. 

Edmond  Bridges  v.  Mr.  Symon  Bradstreet.  Review  of  a  case  tried 
at  Salem  court.     Nonsuited. — Sept.  26,  1671. 

Fined  by  Mr.  Symonds,  Ens.  John  Gould  and  Evan  Morice. 

Upon  complaint  of  Evan  Morris  against  Ens.  John  Gould,  Aug.  .5, 
1671,  for  abuse  by  beating  and  threatening  him,  said  Gould  was  fined 
by  Samuel  Symonds.  In  Sept.,  1671,  Morris  was  fined  for  misdemean- 
ors toward  said  Gould. — Sept.  26,  1671. 

Upon  petition  from  Topsfield  that  the  villagers  who  dwell  near 
Topsfield  contribute  to  the  maintenance  of  the  ministry,  court  advised 
that  their  neighbors  of  Topsfield  and  Rowley  come  to  some  agree- 
ment or  else  appear  at  the  next  Ipswich  court,  when  the  court  agreed 
to  hear  them.— Sept.  26,  1671. 

John  Perkings,  aged  sixteen  years,  and  Sarah  Perkings,  aged  be- 
tween fourteen  and  fifteen  years,  made  choice  of  their  father  Mr. 
Wm.  Perkings  to  be  their  guardian. — Sept.  26,  1671. 

Edmond  Bridges  was  allowed  costs  in  an  action  brought  in  this 
court  by  Mr.  Symond  Bradstreet  and  not  prosecuted. — Nov.  28,  1671. 

James  Hall  being  complained  of  for  stealing  lOli.  worth  of -goods 
from  Ensign  Goold,  which  are  in  the  hands  of  Major  Hathorne,  the 
latter  was  ordered  to  return  them  to  said  Goold. — Nov.  28,  1671. 

Warrant,  dated  Nov.  21,  1671,  to  Edmond  Bridges  of  Topsfeild, 
blacksmith,  upon  complaint  of  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreete,  for  debt  and 
refusing  to  deliver  a  pair  of  smith's  bellows  and  anvil,  with  rent  due 
for  them,  signed  by  Edmond  Fawkner,  for  the  court. — Nov.  28,  1671. 

Petition  of  John  Gould  and  Thomas  Baker,  dated  26 :  7  :  1671,  in 
behalf  of  the  selectmen  and  town  of  Topsfeild  :  ''That  whereas  by  ye 
standing  aloofe  from  us,  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Rowly  village,  many  in- 
conveniences accrue  to  both  Church  &  Towne  of  Topsfeild,  soe  yt  our 
Ministers  maintenance  is  made  very  heauy  to  us,  but  asmale  &  poore 
people  by  reason  of  ye  wmdrawing  of  ym  of  ye  village,  who  equally 
ptake  in  ye  benefit  of  ye  ministry  w*h  our  selues  :  &  Military  disci- 
pline, &  exercise  Canot  bee  well  attended  &  promoted  by  Reason  of 
ye  paucity  of  our  trained  souldiers  lysted  in  Topsfeild  very  few,  too 
few  to  make  our  Exercise  to  haue  any  thing  of  souldier-like  Lustre  & 
beauty  in  it ;  Yr  Worshs  petitioners  therefore  humbly  intreate  y 
Worhs  helpe  to  ye  ioyning  them  of  ye  village  to  us,  for  some  space  at 
least  till  such  time  as  they  shall  bee  Capeable  of  themselues  to  attend 
ye  forementioned  ende." — Nov.  28,  1671. 

John  Cummings  served  on  the  jury  of  trials  at  Ipswich,  Mar.  26, 
1672. 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  89 

James  Watters  v.  Patrick  Morrin.  Slander.  Verdict  for  plaintiff. 
Defendant  was  to  make  public  acknowledgment  in  the  first  town 
meeting  in  Topsfield.  Execution  was  fully  satisfied  on  Apr.  2,  under 
the  hands  of  James  Watters,  Jo.  How  and  James  Hartscomb. 

Writ,  dated  21 :  10  :  1671,  signed  by  John  Redintgon,  for  the  court, 
and  served  by  Jeremiah  Elsworth,  constable  of  Rowly. — Mar.  26, 1672. 

Wm.  Averill  v.  John  Procktor,  sr.     Withdrawn. — Mar.  26,  1672. 

Ordered  that  at  the  next  training  day  at  Topsfield,  the  soldiers  of 
the  Village  shall  attend  there  and  declare  whether  for  the  future  they 
will  train  there  or  not.  And  as  the  major  part  of  the  said  Village 
soldiers  shall  determine  by  vote,  it  shall  be  binding  during  the  court's 
pleasure.      '■'■' 

Daniell  Borman,  constable  of  Topsfield,  was  fined  for  not  returning 
his  warrant  for  juryman. — Mar.  26,  1672. 

Patrick  Morrin,  for  offering  abuse  to  the  wife  of  James  Watters, 
was  ordered  to  be  whipped  and  pay  a  fine.  Upon  his  petition  court 
remitted  the  corporal  punishment. 

Examination  of  Mary,  wife  of  James  Waters :  "on  Thursday  last 
about  noone,  Patricke  morril  came  to  her  house,  her  husband  then 
being  within,  and  her  husband  desired  to  entertain  him  courteously. 
I  never  saw  him  before-;  my  husband  went  out  of  the  house  to  a  cel- 
lar out  of  doores  to  tap  a  barrel  of  cyder  to  make  him  drinke,  the  sd 
Patricke  continuing  in  the  house  with  me  and  my  child  about  2  years 
old  he  called  the  child  to  him  and  asked  the  child,"  etc.  Pie  assaulted 
said  Mary,  who  told  her  husband  of  it,  and  asked  him  not  to  leave  her 
alone  with  him.  "On  Munday  morning  last  my  husband  went  by  the 
iron  works  to  cutt  wood  and  as  he  sth  saw  &  spake  wth  Patrick  Morril 
at  the  iron  works,  about  noone  I  saw  the  sd  Patrick  coming  towards  our 
doore  wch  I  kept  shutt,  and  he  knocking  I  answered  not,  then  he  came 
and  looked  into  the  window  and  asked  if  my  husband  was  not  at  home, 
I  answered  no ;  he  then  sd  may  not.  a  man  light  his  pipe,  1  sd  I  was 
not  against  lighting  his  pipe  in  a  civil  way  (for  I  was  afrayd  of  him 
being  alone  wth  my  child  and  no  neighbours  within  call)  so  without 
bidding  he  opened  the  doore  and  came  in,  and  went  not  to  the  fire 
nor  offered  to  light  his  pipe  but  came  directly  to  me  .  .  .  and  the  child 
cryed  let  my  mother  alone,  then  he  tooke  a  wedg  out  of  my  hand, 
and  sd  he  would  splitt  my  brains  about  the  house  &  tramp  them  as 
smal  as  ashes  .  .  .  then  I  rose  to  goe  out  of  doors  and  he  stopped  me 
and  called  me  impudent  &  brasen  faced  baud,  he  stepping  to  the  fire 
I  caught  up  my  child  &  went  out  of  doores,  and  then  he  followed  and 
came  up  to  the  doore  wch  I  was  shutting  &  told  me  I  would  not  best 
go  any  whither,  but  I  sayd  I  would  goe  to  the  neighbours  and  as  I 
was  going  he  sitting  on  his  horse  sd  that  Jf  he  had  not  his  will  of  me 
now,  the  next  time  he  mctt  me  he  would  be  the  death  of  me,  so  I  went 


90  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

to  Edmund  Townes  house  and  he  rod  thither  before  me  and  stood  in 
the  doore,  and  sd  I  should  not  come  there  I  was  better  to  goe  home 
I  spake  aloud  that  I  would  come  for  all  him  or  any  such  as  he  was, 
when  I  came  in  he  went  out  &  fetched  his  horse  and  came  againe 
and  I  was  telling  Goodwife  towne  how  the  sd  Patrick  had  done  by  me, 
hee  asked  what  it  was  that  I  sayd  and  Goodwife  Towne  replyed  if  it 
be  as  shee  say  you  are  a  naughty  man  being  asked  why  when  she 
saw  Patrick  She  did  not  locke  her  doore,  she  sd  she  was  afrayd  & 
knew  he  might  if  he  would  come  in  at  the  window."  Sworn,  Dec. 
19,  1671,  before  Daniel  Denison. 

Mary  Townes,  aged  thirty-three  years,  and  her  daughter  Mary, 
aged  about  sixteen  years,  and  Sarah,  aged  about  fifteen  years,  de- 
posed, on  Dec,  18,  1671,  that  Patrek  Morell  came  into  their  house  up- 
on one  second  day  in  the  afternoon  some  time  in  December  last  and 
said  that  his  master  Lenord  sent  him  to  see  if  they  had  any  cider  to 
sell,  and  as  he  was  speaking  Goodwife  Waters  came  in.  The  latter 
was  crying  and  deponents  thinking  her  husband  might  have  been 
knocked  on  the  head,  asked  her  what  the  matter  was,  etc.  Sworn 
in  court. 

James  Watters'  bill  of  cost,  21i.  lis.  8d. 

Patrick  Moron's  petition  that  the  bill  of  cost  put  in  against  him  at 
the  last  Ipswich  court  by  James  Waters  or  John  How  be  reduced,  as 
he  was  charged  more  than  the  law  allows. — Mar.  26,  1672. 

James  Carr  acknowledged  judgment  to  Ens.  John  Gould,  for  which 
he  engaged  to  serve  him  one  year. — Mar.  26,  1672. 

Complaint,  dated  Topesfeld,  12 :  1 :  167T2  of  Willam  (his  mark) 
Nickles,  John  (his  mark)  Nickles,  Zachery  (his  mark)  Curtis,  sr.,  of 
Rowley:  "for  want  of  the  hiewaye  at  beuer  dam  wich  is  there  waye 
to  salam  to -the  in  Joyeing  godes  ordenences  to  the  mill  &  to  the  mar- 
ket :  the  bridg  being  part  of  it  Careyed  out  of  the  Place  the  water 
being  Rased  neare  a  foote  aboue  the  timber  that  is  left :  the  water 
being  Rased  in  the  hiewaye  neare  twelue  fete  together  except  upone 
on  banke  wich  is  a  verey  great  damag  unto  them  in  there  busines  & 
might  be  a  great  damag  to  there  Cattel  &  there  one  persones  if  they 
should  venter  ouer  which  they  dare  not  do :  there  fore  they  humbly 
sue  for  relefe  it  being  both  a  toune  &  Cuntry  hiewaye."  This  com- 
plaint was  received,  20:  1 :  1671-2,  by  Win.  JIathorne,  assistant. 

In  tHe  complaint  of  Lieut.  Thomas  Puttnam  v.  Joseph  and  John 
Hutcheson  about  annoyance  upon  a  common  highway  at  Beaver  dam 
putting  themselves  upon  trial  by  a  jury  and  the  case  committed,  the 
jury  found  the  common  highway  at  Beaver  clam  to  be  unsafe  for 
travellers  by  reason  of  a  mill  and  dam  of  theirs,  court  ordered  that 
the  dam  be  pulled  down  that  caused  the  water  to  overflow  so  as  to 
make  the  way  impassable,  or  else  sufficiently  mend  it  as  to  be  judged 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  91 

safe  by  Sergt.  Richard  Leach  and  Wm.  Flint.  It  was  to  be  completed 
by  the  next  Salem  court. 

Jonathan  Wildes,  aged  about  twenty-one  years,  and  Edward  Put- 
nam, aged  about  seventeen  years,  deposed  that  they  went  to  the  high- 
way at  Bever  dam  to  see  how  high  the.  water  was  and  they  found 
part  of  the  bridge  carried  out  of  place  and  that  the  water  stood  above 
the  timber  that  was  left,  by  measure  about  a  foot.  In  the  highway 
they  measured  the  water  beside  the  bridge  and  it  was  three  feet  deep, 
also  it  was  about  twelve  or  thirteen  rods  flooded  along  the  highway, 
and  they  dared  not  ride  their  horses  over,  etc.  Sworn,  18 :  1 :  1671- 
2,  before  Wm.  Hathorne,  assistant. 

Zacheus  Curtes,  aged  about  fifty-three  years,  deposed  that  he  was 
riding  from  Salem  and  came  to  Bever  dam  bridge  where  he  passed 
with  great  danger.  The  water  was  so  deep  that  his  horse  fell  down 
and  the  water  was  over  his  head  and  if  his  foot  had  caught  in  the 
stirrup,  he  might  have  lost  his  life  on  the  country  way.  And  so  I 
Road  to  left  Putnam  &  dryed  my  selef  &  stayed  all  night  wich  I 
thought  not  to  haue  don  before."  Sworn,  20 :  1 :  1671-2,  before  Wm. 
Hathorne,  assistant. 

William  Nicoles,  aged  about  seventy  years,  deposed  that  "he  was 
Riding  to  Mr.  Endecottes  &  henry  keney  told  him  he. Could  not  get 
ouer  at  beuer  dam  :  but  I  Road  to  se  &  when  I  Came  there  the  water 
was  Rased  so  hie  with  the  dam  stoping  of  it  at  the  sae  mill :  .  .  .  I 
durst  not  Rid  ouer  the  bridg  but  went  about  by  John  Putnams :  & 
sine  I  was  Riding  to  mill  with  a  grist  &  durst  not  Rid  ouer  but  went 
with  my  grist  by  John  Putnams :  I  haue  Corne  to  Carey  to  Salem 
with  my  Cart  the  bridge  at  beuer  dam  is  so  spoyled  that  I  Can  not 
go  ouer  with  my  cart :  &  haue  no  other  way  but  that  exept  I  go  a 
great  way  about  where  is  wores  way  for  me  &  my  oxen  then  that 
was  :  the  time  that  I  have  bin  put  by  at  this  bridg  hath  bine  this  mo. 
of  March  71-72."  Sworn,  20 :  1 :  1671-2,  before  Wm.  Hathorne, 
assistant.— Mar.  26,  1672. 

Ens.  Goold  had  his  license  for  beer  and  cider  renewed  for  a  year. — 
Mar.  26,  1672. 

Peeter  Jenkins  was  admonished  upon  his  presentment. 

Phebe  Redington,  aged  about  seventeen  years,  deposed  that  Peter 
Ginkens  came  to  their  house  and  his  behavior  was  not  as  it  used  to 
be.  He  took  the  quart  pot  with  some  cider  in  it  which  she  thought 
he  drunk  up,  and  then  went  down  cellar  and  bade  her  draw  some 
more.  He  took  apples  and  put  them  in  his  pockets,  went  into  an- 
other room,  held  down  the  latch  of  the  door  and  took  the  door  off  the 
hinges.  He  also  took  a  writing  and  would  not  give  it  to  her  again. 
Afterward  she  was  by  the  fire  and  he  playing  the  fool  in  her  way, 
she  "gave  him  a  shufe  with  one  hand"  and  he  fell  down.     When  he 


92  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

arose  to  go  away  he  asked  where  his  horse  was,  when  it  was  in  plain 
sight.  "He  got  up  on  his  hors  and  galipt  away  hooting  and  holowing 
and  wisteled  the  dogg." 

Daniell  Redington,  aged  about  fifteen  years,  deposed. 

Peeter  Jenkins  was  of  Bromiguin  or  Rowley  Village.  John  Wild, 
sr.,  and  Jona.  Wild,  were  witnesses  to  his  presentment. — May  1,  1672. 

Court  being  informed  that  the  General  Court  had  allowed  the  unit- 
ing of  Rowley  Village  with  Topsfield  in  one  military  company,  ap- 
pointing their  officers  as  their  own  desire,  they  revoke  their  former 
order  of  March  last,  and  declare  that  the  said  Villagers  ought  to  con- 
tinue in  the  military  company  with  Topsfield  and  to  attend  all  mili- 
tary service  and  exercise  under  the  established  officers  of  that  com- 
pany until  they  be  released  or  otherwise  disposed  of  by  the  General 
Court's  order.  Phillip  Fowler  was  allowed  2s.  6d.  for  being  employed 
by  the  court—May  1,  1672. 

John  How  was  granted  a  license  to  draw  and  sell  penny  beer  and 
cakes. 

The  highway  that  was  laid  out  formerly  by  Mr.  Jewett  and  Leift. 
Pebody  between  Topsfeild  and  Salem  was  allowed  as  a  county  high- 
way.—-./ww?  25,  1672. 

Zacheus  Curtis,  the  elder,  and  Zacheus  Curtice,  the  younger,  and 
and  Zachariah  Curtice,  Abraham  Redington,  jr.,  and  John  Everitt, 
being  complained  of  for  smoking  tobacco  in  the  meeting  house  at 
Topsfeild,  in  the  time  when  most  of  the  people  were  met  on  a  Lord's 
day,  to  the  great  offence  of  the  assembly,  were  admonished  and  or- 
dered to  pay  the  witnesses,  Ed.  Bridges  and  John  How. 

Bill  of  cost,  against  "ould  cortis  and  his  sonns,"  Hi.  3s. 

John  Everard  acknowledged,  26 :  4 :  1672,  that  he  smoked  in  the 
meeting  house  with  other  company,  but  as  soon  as  he  was  spoken  to 
he  put  out  his  pipe,  and  is  sorry  that  he  should  have  given  offence. 
He  was  so  lame  that  he  could  not  go  to  court  at  this  time. — June  25, 
1672. 

Fined  by  Major  Hathorne  since  9  mo.  1672: — William  Smith,  for 
pushing  his  wife. — June  25,  1672. 

Warrant,  dated  May  29,  1672,  to  the  selectmen  of  Topsfeild  to  an- 
swer a  presentment  for  a  defect  in  a  highway  on  the  northwest  of  a 
river  near  the  house  of  William  Towne,  signed  by  Hilliard  Veren, 
cleric,  and  served  by  John  Hovey,  constable  of  Topsfield. — June  25, 
1672. 

Petition,  dated  Topsfield,  June  26,  1672,  from  Jeremiah  Hubbard, 
to  the  Salem  court : 

"Honoured  and  Worp11 

"These  few  lines  (after  due  service  p'sented,  and  yor  favour  craved 
for  my  boldnes  in  this  addresse)  Are  to  declare  That  all  former  ap- 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  93 

plications  to  yor  worps.  notwithstanding  I  am  yet  forced  to  informe 
you  that  Little  or  nothing  is  effected  as  to  payment  of  my  honest  dues 
and  debts  for  my  labours  in  the  worke  of  the  Lord  at  Bass  Rivr  now 
Beverly,  allthough  I  haue.  weighted  long,  yea  eight  years  are  allmost 
elapsed.  Those  people  have  had  my  Accompts  once  &  againe,  &  A 
copie  of  the  principall  or  originall  Rates  attested  some  of  them  by 
Authority. 

"My  humble  request  is  that  however  at  the  long  runn  I  may  not 
every  way  be  a  Loser.  But  that  yor  worships  in  yor  wisdom  would 
pleas  to  finde  out  an  effectuall  way  that  in  love  and  pease  I  may 
have  my  owne  at  last ;  I  leave  the  matter  to  the  worp11  Courts  judic- 
ious consideration  :  &  ever  desireing  the  lord  to  be  amongst  you.  I 
subscribe  myselfe 

"Yor  Humble  Serv* 

"Jeremiah  Hubbard." 

—June  25,  1672. 

John  French  served  on  the  grand  jury  and  Francis  Pabody  on  the 
jury  of  trials  at  court  held  at  Ipswich,  Sept.  24,  1672. 

Evan  Morice  v.  Ens,  John  Gould.     Battery.     Withdrawn. 

Ens.  Thomas  Howlet  v.  Peeter  Jenkins.  Debt.  Verdict  for  plain- 
tiff. 

Writ:  Ens.  Thomas  Howlet  v.  Peter  Ginken ;  debt;  dated  25:  4: 
1672  ;  signed  by  John  Redington,  for  the  court ;  and  served  by  John 
Hovey,  constable  of  Topsfield  by  attachment  of  the  unburned  bricks 
belonging  to  defendent,  now  lying  at  John  Cumings'  house. 

Peter  Jinkins,  Dr.,  1672,  for  22  1-4  of  pork,  7s.  5d. ;  cheese,  Is. ; 
butter,  Is.  ;  hay,  6s. ;  malt,  Is.  l-2d.;  Indian  corn,  5s.  4d.  bacon,  12s. 
9d. ;  Indian  corn,  Hi.  Is.  4d. ;  total,  21i.  17s.  lid.  William  Howlet,  one 
day's  work,  2s. ;  William  and  Isack,  half  a  day,  4s. ;  carting  of  wood, 
one  day,  5s. ;  the  burning  of  the  bricks,  Hi.  17s.  6d. ;  total  21i.  10s. 
6d.  Proved  by  the  oath  of  Jo.  Comings  and  Rich.  Bates. — Sept.  24, 
1672. 

John  Comings  v.  Peeter  Jenkins.     Debt.     Verdict  for  plaintiff. 

Writ,  dated  29  :  4 :  1672,  signed  by  John  Redington,  for  the  court, 
and  served  by  John  Hovey,  constable  of  Topsfield. 

Peter  Jenkins,  Dr.,  to  1  bushall  1-2  Indon  Corne,4s. ;  3  days  worke 
of  Nathaniel,  Is.  6d.  per  day,  4s.  6d. ;  4  dayes  of  Abraham,  Is.  per 
day,  4s.;  Abraham,  4  days,  4s.;  myselfe  3  dayes  worke,  6s;  John,  3 
days  work,  4s.  6d.;  Thomas,  3  dayes  work,  4s.  6d.;  Nathaniel,  2 
days,  3s. ;  10  Load  of  wood,  10s. ;  11  weaks  diet  of  2  men,  at  4s.  6d. , 
per  weeke  for  a  man,  21i.  4s.  6d. ;  total,  51i.  19s. 

Peter  Jenkins,  Cr.,  to  22  pound  1  quarter  of  porke  at  4d.  per  pound, 
7s.  5d. ;  cheese,  3s. ;  2  pound  butter,  12d. ;  bushall  of  Indon  Corne  at 


94  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 


2s.  8d.,  Hi.  Is.  4d. ;  25  pound  of  bakon  at  6d.  per,  12s.  6d.;  total,  21i. 
5s.  3d. 

Rich.  Bates  testified  that  his  master  Peter  Jenkens  lived  at  John 
Comings'  and  had  his  diet  there.     Sworn  in  court. — Sept.  24,  1672. 

Richard  Bates  v.  Peeter  Jenkins.     Debt.     Withdrawn. 

John  Saffourd  v.  Ens.  John  Gould.     Debt.     Verdict  for  defendant. 

Writ,  dated  17:  7:  1672,  signed  by  John  Redington  for  the  court, 
and  served  by  John  Hovey,  constable  of  Topsfield,  by  attachment  of 
a  new  frame  of  a  barn  standing  on  the  south  side  of  defendant's  yard 
within  his  fence. 

James  Hanscombe  deposed  that  Jno.  Saford  several  times  desired 
to  have  credit  upon  Mr.  Lenoard's  book,  but  on  4  :  5  :  1672,  by  order 
of  deponent's  master,  Henry  Leonard,  he  gave  him  credit.  Sworn  in 
court. 

John  Gould,  Dr.,  to  6  C.  of  bar  iron,  71i.  4s.  Jno.  Safford  was  at  the 
works  when  the  account  was  made. 

Thomas  Andrewes  deposed  that  he  heard  John  Saford  tell  Ensign 
John  Goold  that  he  did  not  look  to  Mr.  Linerd  for  the  iron  and  took 
no  notice  of  him  until  he  paid  him.  Saferd  said  he  did  not  discharge 
Ensign  Goold  until  he  had  received  the  iron. 

Edmond  Bridgs  deposed.     Sworn  in  court. — Sept.  24,  1672. 

Ens.  John  Gould  v.  Benjamin  Felton.  For  letting  his  prisoner  go. 
Verdict  for  defendant. 

Writ :  Ens.  John  Gould  v.  Benjamin  Felton,  keeper  of  Salem  prison ; 
for  letting  his  prisoner  go ;  dated  16  :  7 :  1672 ;  signed  by  John  Red- 
ington, for  the  court,  and  served  by  Henry  Skerry,  marshal  of  Salem, 
by  attachment  of  house  of  defendant. 

Edmond  Bridges  deposed  that  John  Gould  demanding  his  prisoner 
at  Salem  court  last  November  could  get  answer  only  that  he  had 
broken  prison  and  had  run  away.  Also  that  the  keeper  of  Salem 
prison  had  often  been  known  to  take  prisoners  out  of  the  prison  to 
help  him  about  his  own  occasions,  and  some  times  men  have  run 
away  in  the  meantime.     Sworn  in  court. — Sept.  24,  1672. 

Ens.  John  Gould  v.  Sergt.  Thomas  Fuller.  Trespass.  Verdict  for 
defendant. 

Writ:  Ens.  John  Gould  v.  Sergt.  Fuller;  trespass;  for  felling  trees 
upon  his  land ;  dated  16  :  7 :  1672 ;  signed  by  John  Redington,  for  the 
court;  and  served  by  Henry  Skerry,  marshal  of  Salem.  Bond  of 
Thomas  Fuller,  Nathanell  Putnam,  surety. 

Copy  of  the  record  of  the  General  Court  of  May  23,  1666 ;  Thomas 
Howlet  and  John  Gage,  having  been  appointed  to  lay  out  and  measure 
to  Zacheus  Gold  the  300  acres  of  land  granted  to  Capt.  Patrick  form- 
erly, did  so  about  a  year  since.  One  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  this 
tract   was  bounded   on  the   northwest   by  the  Andiver  line,  on  the 


COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  95 

northeast  by  Rowly  line,  on  the  southeast  by  land  of  Zacheus  Gold, 
and  on  the  other  end  by  land  of  Major  Generall  Denison,  said  land  ly- 
ing in  a  circular  form.  There  being  no  more  land  in  that  place  to 
dispose  of,  they  laid  out  170  acres  more  in  a  free  place  to  make  up 
the  complement,  which  was  bounded  by  land  of  Hon.  Richard  Belling- 
ham,  Esq.,  on  the  north,  land  of  Major  Generall  Denison  on  the  east, 
on  the  south  and  west  by  the  country  land.  The  measurements  were 
on  the  line  next  the  Major's  barn,  240  rods,  the  other  line  parallel, 
160  rods,  and  each  of  the  other  two  lines  being  140  rods.  Copy  made 
by  Edward  Rawson,  secretary. 

John  Browne,  aged  thirty-eight  years,  deposed  that  the  tract  of  land 
given  to  Nathaniel  W.allker  by  the  town  of  Redding,  lately  in  the 
possession  of  Shuball  Walker,  was  sold  to  Thomas  Fuller,  and  that 
the  land  lay  within  Redding  two  mile  grant.  Sworn,  Sept.  23,  1672, 
before  Nicholas  Browne,  William  Cowdrey  and  Jonathan  Poole,  com- 
missioners of  Redding. 

Hananiah 'Parker,  aged  thirty-four  years,  deposed  the  same. 

Jonathan  Knight  deposed.     Sworn  in  court. 

John  Gage  deposed,  at  Merrimack,  Sept.  28,  1672,  that  he  and  his 
brother  Howlet  laid  out  170  acres  at  Wills  hill  to  John  Gold,  he  in- 
forming them  it  was  country  land. 

Copy  of  the  records  of  the  General  Court,  dated  May  23,  1666, 
made  by  Edw.  Rawson,  recorder :  whereas  the  court  formerly  granted 
to  Reading  a  tract  of  land  two  miles  long,  between  their  grant  of 
four  miles,  and  Mr.  Bellingham's  farm  and  the  great  river,  and  also 
ordered  them  to  have  it  laid  out,  accordingly  Elisha  Hutchinson  laid 
it  out  for  Reading,  as  follows :  Running  from  a  pine  tree  A  north  by 
the  compass  600  rods,  joining  to  the  town  of  Reading's  land,  to  B  to 
the  top  of  a  rocky  hill  and  from  B  east  268  rods  to  an  oak  tree  at  C 
marked  RB  and  joins  to  Andover  land  and  from  C  south  southeast  8 
degrees  30  minutes  east  576  rod,  the  lines  joining  upon  the  Governor's 
farm  to  a  black  oak  tree  at  D  marked  RB  and  this  land  joins  upon 
Mr.  Bellingham's  farm ;  the  fourth  line  runs  from  DEBN  236  rods  to 
a  walnut  tree  at  E  and  joins  also  upon  Mr.  Bellingham's  farm;  the 
fifth  line  from  E  southeast  and  by  south  204  rods  to  a  black  oak  in 
Salem  line  at  F  which  line  joins  upon  the  farm  of  Thomas  Fuller;  the 
sixth  line  runs  from  F  west  southwest  2  degrees  south  420  rods  to  a 
black  oak  at  G,  the  which  lines  are  Salem  bounds ;  the  seventh  line 
from  G  west  by  North  7  degrees  north  568  rods  to  a  pine  tree  at  A 
along  the  river  side. — Sept.  24,  1672. 

Thomas  Bishop,  assignee  of  Margret  Bishop,  executrix  to  Thomas 
Bishop  v.  Ens.  John  Gould.  Debt.  In  wheat,  malt  or  pork.  Verdict 
for  plaintiff. 


96  COURT  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

Writ,  dated  Sept.  6,  1672,  signed  by  Robert  Lord,  for  the  court,  and 
served  by  Robert  Lord,  marshal  of  Ipswich. 

Bond,  dated  Jan.  27,  1669,  John  Gould  of  Topsfield  to  Thomas 
Bishop  of  Ipswich,  for  231i.,  to  be  paid  in  neat  cattle,  wheat,  corn  or 
pork,  with  611.  10s.  that  he  engaged  for  Edmun  Bridges,  jr.  Wit : 
John  Brownson  and  Mary  Gilbert.  On  Sept.  6,  1672,  Margret  Bishop, 
executrix  of  Thomas  Bishop,  assigned  this  bond  to  her  son  Thomas. 
Wit :  Samuell  Bishop  and  Sarah  Bishop.  Court  allowed  this  copy 
instead  of  the  original,  which  was  the  plaintiff's  book  and  now  can- 
celled.— Sept.  24,  1672, 

Ens.  John  Gould  acknowledged  judgement  to  Edmond  Bridges  of 
Ipswich,  in  bar  iron. 

Daniell  Clarke  was  released  from  training,  paying  5s.  a  year  to  the 
use  of  the  company. — Sept.  24,  1672. 

Jno.  Safford  v.  Hen.  Leonard.     Debt.     Of  about  10  C.  of  bar  iron. 

Terdict  for  plaintiff. 

Jno.  Howe  deposed  that  being  at  Mr.  Leonard's  house,  Marshal 
Lord  demanded  iron  for  John  Saford,  which  Leonard  said  would  be 
ready  the  next  morning.  The  marshal  told  Ens.  John  Gould  to  carry 
the  iron.    Zacheus  Curtis  testified  the  same.     Sworn  in  court. 

James  Hanscombe  deposed  that  Ens.  John  Gould  came  with  his  team 
for  some  iron  to  carry  to  the  Worshipfull  Major  Denison,  for  John 
Saford.  Gould  asked  who  was  to  pay  him  and  not  being  assured, 
bade  his  man  drive  away,  so  the  iron  lay  there  still  at  the  forge. 
Sworn  in  court. 

John  Gould  deposed  that  he  agreed  to  take  the  two  parcels  to  Ips- 
wich, and  Denisons's  iron  was  ready,  but  Saford's  was  not.  Also 
that  he  would  have  had  to  wait  an  hour  or  two  for  it,  and  it  was 
then  dark.     Sworn  in  court.-— Nov.  26,  1672. 

{To  be  continued.) 


NEWSPAPER  ITEMS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD, 

COPIED  FROM  BOSTON  NEWSPAPERS, 

1704-1780 


BY  GEORGE  FRANCIS  DOW. 


In  the  third  volume  (1897)  of  these  Historical  Collections  was 
printed  the  first  installment  of  a  series  of  newspapers  items  relating 
to  Topsfield,  taken  from  Salem  newspapers  which  began  publication 
in  that  place  in  August,  1768.  In  the  following  pages  the  earlier 
period  has  been  covered  by  scanning  the  Boston  newspapers,  beginning 
with  the  first  issue  of  the  "News  Letter,"  first  published  1704.  The 
following  newspaper  files  have  been  scanned,  viz  : — 

Boston  News-Letter,  1704-1775 

Boston  Gazette,  1721-1736;  1753-1780 

New  England  Courant,  1721-1726 

New  England  Journal  1727-1741 

Boston  Evening  Post,  1741-1752 

Boston  Chronicle,  1775-1780 


Topsfield,  Aug.  1.  Yesterday  there  fell  a  great  showre  of  Rain, 
accompanied  with  very  sharp  Thunder;  one  Flash  of  the  Lightning 
struck  the  Barn  of  Deacon  Daniel  Reddington,  and  set  it  in  a  Blaze 
to  that  Degree,  that  tho'  the  Family  (no  less  in  number  than  fourteen) 
were  all  within  the  Dwelling-House,  at  about  twelve  Rod  from  the 
Barn,  and  immediately  ran  out  to  quench  the  Flame,  yet  they  were 
not  able  to  effect  it,  but  it  burnt  down  to  the  Ground.  The  Goodness 
of  GOD  to  the  numerous  Family  is  much  to  be  remarked,  the  House 
wherein  they  were  together  was  not  struck. 

Boston  News-Letter,  Aug.  1-8,  1720. 

On  the  30th  past  died  at  Topsfield  the  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Capen, 
Pastor  of  the  Church  there,  very  much  lamented. 

New-England  Courant,  July  3-10,  1725. 

The  Boston  News- Letter  for  Sept.  30 -Oct.  7,  1725,  contains  an  ac- 
count of  the  giving  way  of  a  mill  dam  at  Woodstock,  Conn.,  and  con- 
tinues as  follows: — 

(97) 


98  NEWSPAPER  ITEMS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

"The  foregoing  account  demonstrates,  that  Water  is  a  bad  Master; 
and  brings  to  remembrance  the  Vanity  and  Vexation  of  Spirit,  with 
which  the  Owners  of  the  Iron  Works  at  Topsfield  were  exercised. 
They  made  a  strong  Dam  to  dispose  the  Water  for  their  Service :  But 
it  pass'd  over  the  firm  land  beside  the  Dam,  which  was  not  discerned, 
or  not  seasonably  guarded  against ;  Presently  after,  it  insinuated  it 
self  under  the  Turff,  and  then  it  rushed  with  such  Violence  as  to 
throw  down  the  Trees,  and  conquer  all  opposition ;  it  quickly  forced 
a  large  and  deep  Channel.  And  the  owners  were  put  to  the  sore 
travel  of  making  a  second  Dam ;  or  else  the  first,  tho'  standing,  had 
stood  to  no  purpose." 

Topsfield,  November  27.  This  Day  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Emerson  was 
ordained  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  this  Town,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wiggles- 
worth  of  Ipswich  began  with  Prayer,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson  of  Maiden, 
his  Brother,  Preach'd  the  Sermon  from  Matth.  iv,  21 ;  22.  And  go- 
ing on  from  thence,  he  saw  other  two  brethren,  James  the  son  of  Zebedee, 
and  John  his  brother,  in  a  ship  with  Zebedee  their  father,  mending  their 
nets;  and  he  called  them.  And  they  immediately  left  the  ship  and  their 
father,  and  followed  him.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Ward  of  Wenham,  prayed  after 
the  Sermon,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  sen.  of  Ipswich  gave  the  Charge, 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers  of  Boxford  the  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship. 

Boston  News-Letter,  Nov.  28-Dec.  5,  1728. 

On  Saturday,  the  8th  instant,  a  Negro  Boy  about  15  years  old,  be- 
longing to  Wenham,  driving  a  Team  down  the  hill  that  leads  to 
Topsfield-Bndge,  was  crush'd  to  Death,  by  the  overturning  of  the 
Cart.  New-England  Journal,  May  11,  1731. 

We  hear  that  a  Tree  was  astonishingly  shivered  by  a  stroke  of 
Lightning  at  Topsfield  on  Saturday  last. 

Boston  News-Letter,  March  8-15,  1733. 

We  hear  from  Topsfield,  That  about  a  fortnight  ago,  a  man  being 
in  [a]  Smith's  shop,  having  his  Musket  in  his  Hand,  charg'd  with 
Powder  and  Shot,  the  Mustle  of  which  being  under  his  Chin,  a  spark 
of  Fire  from  the  Smith's  Forge,  flew  into  the  Pan,  and  discharged 
the  Piece  up  into  his  Face,  which  tore  off  his  Chin,  the  tip  of  his 
Tongue,  with  part  of  his  Nose  and  Forehead,  and  render  d  him  a 
most  pitiful  Object.  He  is  yet  alive,  and  under  the  care  of  a  skilful 
Surgeon.  Boston  News-Letter,  Aug.  23-30,  1733. 

Ipswich,  August  1.  This  Day  died  John  Baker,  Esq:  in  the  44th 
year  of  his  Age  ;  He  was  one  of  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace 
for  the  County  of  Essex;  His  Descent  was  honourable,  Son  of  Capt. 
Thomas  Baker  of  Topsfield,  by  a  Daughter  of  the  late  honourable 


NEWSPAPER  ITEMS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  99 

Samuel  Symonds,  Esq  :  Deputy  Governour  of  the  Colony  of  the  Mass- 
achusetts Bay;  He  was  a  Gentleman  of  strict  Virtue ;  a  great  Lover 
of  Truth,  and  of  the  civil  and  sacred  Liberties  of  the  People ;  which 
no  doubt  ought  to  endear  his  Memory  to  all;  His  Death  is  as  uni- 
versally lamented  as  that  of  any  man  who  has  been  Taken  from  us 
for  many  Years  past ;  He  has  left  a  Widow  with  four  small  children, 
and  a  Considerable  Estate  for  their  Support. 

Boston  Neivs-Letter,  Aug.  1-8,  1734. 

We  hear  from  Topsfield,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  That  some  time 
since,  Mrs.  Susannah  Towns,  Wife  to  Mr.  Benjamin  Towns  of  that 
Place,  was  safely  deliver'd  of  Three  Boys  at  a  Birth,  who  are  all  liv- 
ing and  very  lusty  Children.    Boston  News-Letter,  Oct.  14-21,  1736. 

We  hear  from  Topsfield,  That  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Town  of  that 
Place,  has  some  time  since,  brought  him  at  Two  Births,  Five  fine 
lusty  Boys,  who  are  all  alive  and  well. 

Boston  News-Letter,  Dec.  7-14,  1738. 

Among  the  partners  or  shareholders  in  the  "Land  Bank  or  Manu- 
factory Scheme"  were  the  following  from  Topsfield : — Richard  Towns, 
Thomas  Baker.  Boston  News-Letter,  Jan.  2,  1746  (sup.). 

One  day  last  Week  a  sad  Accident  happen'd  at  Topsfield,  when 
one  Mrs.  Esther  Perkins  went  to  a  Well  in  order  to  draw  some  Water, 
fell  into  it,  and  dislocated  her  Neck  so  that  she  died  instantly; 

Boston  News-Letter,  Oct.  13,  1748. 

On  the  25th  of  last  Month  the  House  of  Mr.  Richard  Town  at  Tops- 
field,  was  burnt  down  to  the  Ground,  with  a  large  Quantity  of  Grain, 
&c.  therein.  Boston  News-Letter,  Nov.  10,  1748. 

The  partners  in  the  "Land  Bank  or  Manufactory  Scheme"  were 
assessed  and  Topsfield  men  paid  as  follows:  Richard  Towns  £7., 
Thomas  Baker  £4.  Boston  Evening  Post,  Feb.  27,  1749  (sup.). 

Marlborough,  Sept.  15.  On  the  13th  Instant  died,  and  this  day  was 
decently  interred  here,  Mrs.  Rebeccah  Fisk,  Consort  of  Capt.  Thomas 
Fisk,  late  of  Wenham,  and  Daughter  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins  of  Tops- 
field;  a  Woman  of  good  Education,  uncommon  Courtesy  and  Civility,  a 
sincere  hearty  Friend,  given  to  Hospitality,  a  lover  of  good  Men,  the 
Ministers (  of  Christ  particularly,  and  of  a  blameless  Christian  Life 
and  Conversation.  Having  acted  her  Part  upon  the  Stage  agreeable 
to  such  noble  and  divine  Principles,  she  is  gone  off  with  approbation 
from  her  Acquaintance,  and  to  the  Grief  of  her  particular  Friends, 
who  while  they  lament  her  Death,  should  carefully  imitate  the  Ver- 
tues  of  her  Life.  Boston  Evening  Post,  Oct.  1,  1750. 


■ 


100  NEWSPAPER   ITEMS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

Michael  Dwinnell  [of  Topsfield]  and  three  other  soldiers  taken  by 
Indians  near  Fort  Halifax,  were  reported  safe  and  well  at  Quebec  in 
a  letter  dated  Dec.  15,  1754. 

Boston  News-Letter,  Mar.  6,  1 755. 

The  Commissioners  in  charge  of  finishing  the  "late  Land-Bank  or 
Manufactory  Scheme",  levyed  an  assessment  of  £3000.  Among  the 
list  of  "late  Parters"  were:  Thomas  Baker,  Topsfield,  £3.  10.  0; 
Richard  Towns,  Topsfield,  £3.  10.  0 ;     John  Baker,  £2.  16.  0. 

Boston  News-Letter,  Sept.  15,  1763. 

Concord,  Feb.  23d,  1771.  Whereas  Mary  the  wife  of  me  the  Sub- 
scriber, now  living  in  Topsfield,  hath  contrary  to  my  orders,  contracted 
sundry  Debts  in  my  absence  to  my  Damage.  I  do  therefore  forbid 
all  Persons  of  what  Conditions  soever,  against  entrusting  her  on  any 
account,  for  I  do  now  Protest  that  I  will  not  pay  one  Farthing  that 
she  shall  contract  after  the  Date  hereof. 

Elnathan  Hubbard. 
Boston  Gazette,  Apr.  8,  1771. 

Topsfield,  Dec.  17,  1775.  After  a  repeated  attendance  on  Divine 
Worship,  it  being  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath,  without  any  previous 
complaint,  sunk  down  in  his  seat  and  suddenly  departed  this  life, 
Elijah  Porter,  Esq :  in  the  63d  year  of  his  age ;  a  person  of  good 
endowments,  natural  and  acquired ;  which  rendered  him  a  great 
blessing  to  his  family  and  friends,  by  whom  he  was  highly  valued 
for  his  sensible,  serious  and  pleasant  conversation,  as  well  as  benevo- 
lent disposition.  His  death  is  greatly  lamented  by  his  relations  and 
acquaintance  ;  but,  blessed  be  God,  they  don't  mourn  as  those  who 
have  no  hope. 

New  England  Chronicle,  Jan.  11,  1776. 

Died  at  Topsfield,  the  18th  ulto.  the  Widow  Hannah  Edwards,  in 
the  95th  year  of  her  age. 

New  England  Chronicle,  Feb.  8,  1776. 

Strayed  or  stolen  from  the  subscriber,  on  the  night  of  the  2d  In- 
stant, a  Pale  Red  Mare,  about  14  Hands  high,  about  12  years  old,  Trots 
&  Paces,  a  white  stripe  in  her  Face,  her  mane  Hanging  to  the  Right 
side.  Whoever  will  take  up  said  mare,  and  convey  her  to  me,  shall 
have  Twenty  Dollars  Reward,  and  Thirty  Dollars  upon  Conviction  of 
the  Thief.  Thomas  Porter. 

Topsfield,  September  3,  1778.         Boston  Gazette,  Sept.  14,  1778. 


PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD, 
1658—1680. 


COMMUNICATED  BY  ELEANOR   LOUISE  WATERS. 


Estate  of  George  Bunker. 

Administration  on  the  estate  of  George  Buncker  granted  June  29, 
1658  to  the  widow,  Jane  Buncker;  and  the  estate  to  be  divided  among 
said  widow,  son  William  Buncker,  Elizabeth  Buncker,  Mary  Buncker, 
Ann  Buncker  and  Martha  Buncker,  all  under  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
Salem  Quarter ty Court  Records,  vol  4,  leaf  21. 

Inventory  dated  29 :  3 :  1658,  taken  by  Thomas  Howlett,  Frances 
Pabody,  Richod  (his  R  H  mark)  Huten  and  Abraham  Redington :  For 
working  Catil,  361i.;  Cowes  hefors  and  Caves,  161i.;  One  Ewe  and  two 
Lambs,  21L;  a  Cart  and  plowes  and  tackling,  31i.;  swine,  21L;  gune 
and  sword,  21i.;  bras  and  pouter,  31i.;  tabul  and  Chares  and  trayes, 
tubes  and  barils,  21i.  3s.;  Cowes  pelt  skines  and  wheeles,  a  Rop  and 
bandalers,  21i.;  beding  and  linan  and  wolan  and  thirteen  pound  Cot- 
en  wol,  81i.;  waring  Clothing,  31i.  6s.;  the  Crop  of  Corne  upon  the 
ground,  91i.;  dets  due  to  him  upon  bil,  41L  lis.;  housin  and  land  as 
namli  medow  and  uplande,  the  farme  Consisting  of  thre  hondered 
and  twelve  acres  more  or  les,  there  be  more  dribling  detes  that  do 
not  yet  apere  what  tha  are ;  By  John  Andros,  41i.;  by  Frances  Vssel- 
ton,  31i.  14s.;  total,  3001L  lis.  The  estate  is  debt  to  severall  psons 
following :  To  Mr.  Tuttle  as  by  bill  &  otherwise,  91i.  18s.  2d.;  Mr. 
Joseph  Juit,  21i.  8d.;  Capt.  Pendleton,  801i.;  Willm.  Howard,  by  bill, 
24li.;  to  the  worshipfull  Mr.  Bradstreet,  22  bushils  wheat,  41i.  15s.; 
Mr.  Robert  Payne,  21i.  2s.  7d.;  Goodman  Moulton,  30s.  9d.  &  Robt. 
Andrew,  14s.  4d.,  21i.  5s.  4d.;  Mr.Curwin,  121i.  lis.;  Robt.  Stiles,  61i., 
Robt.  Pearse,  10s.,  61i.  10s.;  Mr.  Purkings,  50s.  and  Goodman  Gould- 
smyth,  18s.,  31i.  8s.;  Mr.  Willm.  Payne,  41i.;  Thomas  Rootes,21i.  14s. 
10d.;  Richard  Raymend,  20s.  &  Goody  Graften,  24s.,  44s.;  total, 
15811.  13s.  4cl. 

Elizabeth  Bunker  was  twelve  years  old ;  Will,  ten  years  old ;  Mary, 
six ;  An,  four ;  and  Martha,  one  year  and  a  half.  Essex  Co.  Quarterly 
Court  Files,  vol.  4,  leaf  60. 

(101) 


102  probate  records  relating  to  topsfield. 

Estate  of  Andrew  Creeke. 

Administration  on  the  estate  of  Andrew  Creeke  granted  28:  7: 
1658  to  Daniel!  Clarke.  The  amount  of  inventory  was  insufficient  to 
pay  bills,  by  40s.     Ipsivich  Quarterly  Court  Records,  vol.  1,  page  70. 

Inventory  taken  Sept.  17,  1658,  by  Frances  Pabody  and  Robert 
Andrews  of  Topsfield :  Old  clothes,  lli.  3s.  6d.;  his  sute  of  better 
cloths,  21i.  6s.;  bannds,  bandstrings  &  hankerchers,  13s. ,6d.;  a  hatt, 
13s.  6d.;  a  bottle,  two  knives  &  a  spoone,  Is.  10d.;  an  ax,  2s.;  a  shirt, 
2s.;  a  pott  &  pothookes,  10s.;  a  baskett  &  a  paile,  Is.;  a  rapier  &  a 
belt,  16s.;  a  cowe  in  Mathy  Stanlyes  hands,  with  a  yeares  rent  almost 
due,  41i.  8s.;  dew  to  him  of  his  wages,  61i.;  a  heifers  Hyde  at  the 
taners,  7s.  6d.;  received  of  Mr.  Apleton,  12s.;  total,  171i.  17s.  4d. 
The  debts  wch.  the  sayd  Andrew  owed  when  he  dyed  wch.  doth  all- 
ready  appeare:  Oweing  to  his  master  Daniell  Clarke  when  they  rec- 
koned for  his  last  yeares  wages,  lis.;  payd  to  Mr.  Wade  for  a  sute 
of  cloths  for  him,  with  makeing  of  them  &  a  paire  of  stockings,  31i. 
10s.;  a  paire  of  knit  stockings  &  a  shirt,  12s.  6d.;  for  shoes  &  leather, 
6s.  6d.;  payd  John  Newmarsh  his  wife  for  making  bands,  2s.  4d.; 
payd  to  Goodman  Wooddam  for  him,  2s.;  payd  to  Mr.  Willson,  Is. 
&  to  Deacon  Knowlto,  3s.,  4s.;  oweing  to  John  Tod,  wch.  Dan.  Clarke 
is  engaged  for,  21i.  16s.  9d.;  oweing  to  Mr.  William  Payne,  41i.  12s.; 
oweing  to  Mr.  Baker,  lli.  18s.;  oweing  to  Tho.  Lovell,  lli.  3s.;  owe- 
ing to  Mr.  William  Norton,  Hi.;  oweing  to  Robert  Lord,  Is.  6d.;. 
coffin  &  wynding  sheet  &  other  charges  for  his  buryall,  Hi.  8s.;  owe- 
ing to  John  Andrews,  12s.  7d.;  oweing  to  Humphry  Griffen,  7s.;  for 
tyme  Daniell  Clarke  spent  to  bring  in  an  Inventory  &  for  entering 
the  order  of  administration  &  other  fees,  9s.;  total,  191i.  16s.  2d. 
Sworn  by  Daniell  Clarke,  29 :  7 :  1658,  before  Robert  Lord,  cleric. 
Essex  Co.  Quarterly  Court  Files,  vol.  4,  leaf  87. 

Guardianship  of  William  Perkins. 

William  Perkins,  aged  between  nineteen  and  twenty  years,  Tobias 
Perkins,  aged  about  fourteen  years,  and  Elizabeth  Perkins,  aged  about 
seventeen  years,  all  children  of  Mr.  William  Perkins  of  Topsfield, 
chose  their  father  to  be  their  guardian,  and  it  was  allowed  by  the 
court  27  :  9  :  1660.     Salem  Quarterly  Court  Records,  vol.  4  page  59. 

Estate  of  John  Dorm  an. 

Administration  on  the  estate  of  John  Dorman,  intestate,  granted 
Mar.  25,  1662  to  Mary  Dorman,  the  widow,  and  the  inventory  was 
allowed.     Ipswich  Quarterly  Court  Records,  vol.  1,  page  104. 


PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  103 

Inventory  taken  Feb.  12,  1661,  by  Francis  Pebody  and  Samuell 
Brocklebanke  :  One  booke  and  Aperell,  one  cloke,  21i.  5s.  6d. ;  one 
jackit  and  briches,  21i. ;  one  wascoate,  7s.;  one  dublit  and  a  paire  of 
briches,  Hi.  Is.;  three  paire  of  stockins,  8s.;  Gloves,  6s.;  one  Ink- 
horne,  4d. ;  one  neckcloath,  8d. ;  one  hate,  10s. ;  another  wascoate 
jackit  and  two  paire  of  briches,  Hi.  15s. ;  one  paire  of  boots  and  spurs 
and  2  paire  of  shooes,  Hi.  Is. ;  in  sheets,  shirt  and  other  linen,  21i. 
15s.;  4  cushins,  12s.;  4  bands  and  3  handkercheifs,  9s.  6d.;  one  bed- 
stead and  beding  on  it,  71i.  8s.;  musket,  sword   and   amunition,  Hi. 

15s.;  puter  and  spounes,  12s.  6d.;  one  drinkeing and  brase  skellitt, 

4s.;  in  earthern  and  wooden  dishes  and  trayes,  6s.  4d.;  in  chest  and 
boxe,  9s.;  in  one  Iron  pot  and  pothookes,  12s.;  wheat  31L;  one  meall 
trough  and  one  sith,  3s.;  in  flaxe  and  hempe,  16s.;  in  two  swine,  21i. 
13s.;  in  two  cows,  one  stere  calfe,  lOli.  6s.  8d.;  in  Indian  corne  un- 
thrashed,  by  estimation  about  therty  bushell,  31i.;  more  in  wheat  un- 
winowed,  about  4  bushell  Hi.;  total,  461i.  Is.;  in  debts  dew  to  the 
deceased  from  Thomas  Baker,  4  bushels  of  wheat,  Hi.;  debt  due  from 
Peter  Cowper  as  part  of  portion,  211i.;  debt  due  by  bond  from  Thomas 
Dorman,  501L;  debts  to  be  paid  out  of  the  estate,  81i.  6s.  6d.  "Be  this 
knowne  unto  all  men  that  Thomas  Dorman  of  the  towne  of  Topsfeild 
Hath  and  doth  freely  exprese  himselfe  that  for  a  quiete  and  loueing 
Agreement  betwene  peter  couper  and  him  in  differance  about  that 
estate  that  the  said  peter  couper  did  expect  that  his  daughter  should 
haue  bene  estated  in,  he  would  Giue  unto  the  said  Mary  dorman." 
Essex  Co.  Quarterly  Court  Files,  vol.  7,  leaf  94. 

Estate  of  Thomas  Howlett,  Jr.* 

"This  21  Day  of  Desember  1667  Wheras  I  Thomas  Howlet  ||Jur.|| 
being  weak  in  body  yet  haueing  my  perfite  vnderstanding  doe  make 
this  to  be  my  last  will  and  testament  Imp  in  case  my  wife  be  with 
child  and  hath  a  son  I  doe  giue  and  bequeaue  to  him  halfe  as  much 
more  to  him  as  to  any  one  of  my  Daughters,  but  if  it  be  a  daughter 
then  I  doe  giue  and  bequeaue  unto  my  e[l]dest  daughter  one  third 
part  more  then  vnto  any  of  the  other  two.  and  also  I  doe  giue  and 
bequeaue  to  my  two  youngest  daughters  equal  portions  both  alike, 
and  these  to  be  heire  one  to  another  in  case  either  of  them  dy  childles 
and  further  I  doe  giue  and  bequeaue  vnto  my  Dere  and  loueing  wife 
al  my  moueable  goods  and  my  stock  and  the  benifite  of  the  ||  housing 
and ||  lands  vntell  my  chilren  com  to  age  which  wil  be  at  the  day  of 
marriage  or  at  eighteen  years  of  age  for  my  Daughters  and  my  son 

♦Thomas  Howlett  lived  just  over  the  boundary  line  in  Ipswich,  near  Howlett's 
brook,  in  what  is  now  Topsfield.    The  farm  is  now  owned  by  John  S.  Lawrence, 


104  PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

at  one  and  twenty,  and  after  the  children  com  to  age  she  shal  haue 
halfe  the  beniflte  of  the  || housing  and||  lands  dureing  her  life  tim  I 
willing  my  debts  to  be  payd  out  of  my  estate  doe  make  my  ffather 
Pebody  and  my  wife  excecutor  &  excecutres." 

Thomas  (his  X  mark)  Howlet. 

Witness :  John  Redington,  St.,  Daniell  Borman,  Isaacke  Cumings, 
Sr. 

Proved  in  Ipswich  court,  Mar.  31,  1668  by  John  Reddington  and 
Isaack  Comings. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Howlet,  Jr.,  deceased  Dec.  23, 
1667,  taken  by  Isaacke  Cummings  and  John  Redington  :  house  and 
lands  one  hundred  acres  more  or  les,  2201i.;  one  horse,  61i.;  two  oxen, 
141i.;  five  Cows,  201i.;  two  2  yeare  old  stears,  71i.;  two  hefers  at  one 
yeare  old,  41i.  12s.;  nine  swine,  71i.;  Beding,  bedsted,  Coverlid,  two 
blankets,  Curtins,  bed,  strawbed,  bolster  and  sheets,  two  pilows,  81i.; 
five  sheets,  a  table  cloath,  seven  napkins,  three  shurts,  foure  pillow- 
beers,  61i.;  Dublite,  paire  of  breches,  two  Coats,  paire  of  drawers,  two 
paire  of  stockings,  31i.  10s.;  paire  of  boots,  Hi.;  his  best  aparill  he 
gave  away  when  he  was  vpon  his  death  bed;  two  brase  kittles,  bras 
skilet,  pewter  and  tinn  of  al  sorts,  411.;  meat,  porke,  baken  and  sewet, 
51i.  10s.;  Iron  materialls,  share,  coulter,  chaine,  adses,  exes,  wedges, 
agers,  saws,  yoaks,  hamers  and  all  the  other  tools  of  iron,  31i.;  two 
gunse,  21i.  15s.;  yearne  twenty  pound  hemp  and  flex,  21i.  10s.;  tables, 
chests,  chaires,  stools,  barells,  tubs,  pailes,  boxes,  wheels  with  al  the 
rest  of  the  wooden  ware,  a  case  for  glases,  21i.  10s.;  two  and  twenty 
bushels  of  lndean  Corne,  21i.  18s.  8d:;  eight  and  twenty  bushels  of 
wheat,  71i.;  Twelve  bushels  of  barly,  four  bush,  of  rye,  31i.  4s.;  Two 
hats  and  gloves,  Hi.  6s.;  Books  and  sadle,  Hi.;  debts  due  to  him,  71i. 
5s.;  total,  340H.  8d. 

Allowed  in  Ipswich  court,  Mar.  31,  1668. 

Essex  County  Probate  Files,  Docket  14,092. 

Estate  of  John  Perkins. 

Administration  on  the  estate  of  John  Perkins,  intestate,  granted 
June  30,  1668,  to  his  wife  Deborah,  who  brought  in  an  inventory 
amounting  to  481i.  15s.,  which  was  ordered  to  be  for  the  use  of  the 
widow.  She  was  to  pay  to  her  child  Thomas,  son  of  said  Perkins, 
lOli.  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  if  Deborah  married  again 
she  was  to  give  bond  for  the  payment  thereof.  Salem  Quarterly  Court 
Records,  vol.  5,  leaf TO. 

Inventory  taken  June  12,  1668,  by  Frances  Pabody  and  Edman 
(his  O  mark)  Town :  Three  Cowes  and  one  year  old  beast,  1311.  10s.; 


PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  105 

one  horse,  81i.;  three  Ewes  and  fore  lames  and  one  Calfe,  31i.;  five 
swine,  41i.;  wareing  paril,  81i.  10s.;  fore  sheetes,  pilobers  and  napkines, 
31i.  16s.;  bibel,  5s.;  sadel,  Hi.  5s.;  one  sheet  and  a  bridel,  10s.;  Corne, 
31i.;  Cuper  ware  and  other  lumber  10s.;  hoe,  4s.;  one  axe,  5s.;  pare 
of  fetters,  4s.;  table  and  a  box,  10s.;  musket,  25s.;  total,  481i.  15s. 
Essex  County  Quarterly  Court  Files,  vol.  13,  leaf '67. 

Estate  of  Robert  Andrews.* 

1  Jn  the  name  of  god  amen  Know  all  Christian  people  this  may  or 
shall  concearne  y*  I  Robart  Andrews  of  Rowley  villiage  in  the'County 
of  Esex  being  verey  sick  &  weack  of  body  but  blesed  be  god  in  prfect 
cence  &  memorey  doe  mack  this  my  last  will  &  testiment  reuocking 
all  other  former  wills  wteoelie'r  Impr  I  bequeath  my  soule  to  Allmighty 
god  y*  gaue  it  me  in  whome  I  trust  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ 
to  be  receaiued  into  Eternall  happiness  foreuer  and  my  body  to  ye  earth 
from  whence  it  came  to  be  deciently  burned  in  ye  burring  place  of 
Topsfeeld  according  as  my  wife  and  Children  shall  see  meet  It  I  giue 
&  bequeath  vnto  my  eldest  sonn  Thomas  Andrews  the  house  yt  I  now 
Liue  in  and  ninecore  Ackers  of  Land  being  upland  &.  Medow&y1 
Land  yt  I  bought  of  Zacheus  Gould  only  my  well  beloued  wife  is  to 
haue  duering  her  life  time  the  Kiching  and  hall  &  Kiching  Chamber 
&  halfe  the  seller  &  the  new  feeld  &  the  eight  Acker  peeice  &  halfe 
the  orchard  &  if  ther  be  not  Land  enufe  for  her  to  manuer  then  my 
sd  sonn  with  ye  help  of  my  son  Robart  is  to  breack  her  vp  three  Ackers 
more  or  let  her  haue  three  Ackers  yt  is  allready  broacken  vp  and  the 
same  to  inioy  duering  her  life  without  the  Lett  hinderanc  or  molesta- 
tion of  my  sd  sonn  or  aney  other  prson  vnder  him  and  my  sonn 
Thomas  is  to  shingle  the  house  and  at  my  wiues  deceas  the  said  land 
orchard  and  rooms  is  to  returne  to  my  son  Thomas  &  his  haires  for- 
euer my  said  sonn  Paying  vnto  my  three  youngest  daughters  Rebeckah 
Sarah  &  Ruth  twenty  pound  pr  each  when  she  shall  be  twenty  yeares 
of  Age  and  if  eaither  of  them  shall  die  before  yt  time  then  yt  prt  shall 
be  equaly  devided  between  the  other  two  and  allso  he  is  to  pay  vnto 
my  Daughter  Mary  the  wife  of  Isack  Comins  fiue  pounds  three  years 
after  my  deceas  &  for  the  new  whip  saw  and  all  other  Carpenters 
tools  shall  be  for  the  vse  of  my  wife  sonn  Thomas  &  Robart 

"It  I  giue  and  bequeath  vnto  vnto  my  sonn  Robart  Andrews  eight- 
core  Ackers  of  Land  from  Piebroock  to  ye  clay  pits  and  ye  fat t i  medow 
and  the  fishing  broock  medow  &  becaus  my  sonn  Thomas  &  Robart 
should  not  wrong  one  another  in  wood  I  desier  ther  Land  may  be  ped 

♦Robert  Andrews  lived  just  over  the  boundary  line  in  Rowley  Village  now  Box- 
ford,  but  was  mainly  identified  with  Topsfield. 


106  PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

by  them  selues  &  two  other  honest  men  and  Robart  is  to  pay  vnto 
my  Daughter  Elizebeth  the  wife  of  Samuell  Symons  fiue  pounds  three 
years  af  tter  my  deceas  and  to  my  Daughte  Hanah  Pebody  hue  pounds 
fouer  years  affter  my  deceas  It  I  giue  vnto  my  sonn  John  the  Lot 
comonly  called  the  seller  Lott  and  the  Medow  belonging  vnto  it  but 
the  medow  shall  be  for  the  vse  of  my  wife  &  Thomas  vntell  my  sonn 
John  shall  be  one  and  twenty  years  of  Age  and  then  to  returne  to 
him  without  aney  further  truble  he  paying  to  my  seauen  Grand- 
children twenty  shillings  pr  each  when  the  shall  come  to  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  It  I  giue  vnto  my  sonn  Joseph  y*  Land  in  Topsfeeld 
yc  I  bought  of  John  Wilds  Sen1"  with  all  the  preuiledgs  thereunto  be- 
longing It  I  giue  vnto  my  well  beloued  wife  all  my  Cattell  &  other 
moucable  goods  and  the  Doling  that  is  now  in  ye  yard  &  halfe  the 
barne  &  Lintos  and  my  sonn  Thomas  the  other  halfe  and  he  and  his 
brother  Robart  is  to  set  vp  the  other  Lintoos  &  to  Lay  in  for  the  vse 
of  ther  mother  eauery  year  duering  her  Life  twelue  Loads  of  hay  and 
if  eaither  of  my  sonns  should  die  before  they  are  married  then  y* 
Land  yl  is  giuen  to  them  to  be  equally  deuied  amongst  the  Suruiuers 
Leaueing  my  said  wife  hole  Exsectetrix  and  in  testimony  hearof  I 
haue  hearvnto  Set  my  hand  and  Seale  this  Sixteen1*1  day  of  May  in 
the  yeare  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  Six  hundred  Sixty  &  eight." 
Robart  (his  /  mark)  Andrews,  Sen1"  (seal) 

Witness:  Robert  (his  G  mark)  Smith,  James  Hanscombe. 

Proved  in  Salem  court  2:5m:  1668  by  the  witnesses.  Essex 
County  Probate  Files,  Docket  709. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Robart  Andrews,  sr.,  of  Rowley,  taken 
by  Frances  Pabody,  Isack  Comings  and  Edman  (his  O  mark)  Towne: 
Three  beds  &  beding,  171i.;  two  dusen  &  three  napkins,  21i.;  sheets, 
table  Cloaths  &  pillow  beres,  81i.;  mares  and  colts,  161i.;  fouer  Cowes, 
161i.;  fouer  young  Cattell,  71i.;  fouer  steares,  181i.;  Cart  and  wheeles, 
211.;  Grinding  stone,  6s.;  yoacks,  Chaines  &  plows,  311.  15s.;  Harrow, 
beetell,  wedges,  sives  &  sickells,  21i.;  sheepe,  Lambs  &  one  Caulfe, 
21i.  10s.;  twenti  ackers  of  Corne  upon  the  ground,  251L;  his  wearing 
Cloaths,  81i.;  worcking  tooles,  31i.  5s.;  Chests,  boxes  &  one  trunck, 
Hi.  10s.;  two  musckets,  &  rest,  21i.  10s.;  Chairs,  tubs  &  trays,  21i.  10s.; 
one  peice  of  new  Cloath,  Hi.  4s.;  one  parsell  of  Land  bought, of  John 
Wilds,  451i.;  the  housen  &  two  hundered  ackers  of  Land  upland  & 
medow,  350H.;  Eighteene  ackers  of  upland  &  medow,  1001i.;  one  par- 
cell  of  Land  more  Lieing  in  topsfeeld,  601i.;  eighteene  bushells  of 
wheat,  seaven  bushells  of  rye,  51i.  18s.;  twelve  bushells  of  malt,  Hi. 
16s.;  thirty  bushells  of  Indian  corne,  41i.;  pewter,  bras  and  Iron  pots, 
51i.;  two  tables,  31i.  Is.  debts  due  to  the  estate,  51i.;  Rugg,  101i.;  the 
estate  debtor,  231i. 


PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  107 

Attested  1 :  5m :  1668  by  Grace  Andrewes  wife  of  the  deceased. 
Essex  County  Quarterly  Court  Files,  vol.  13,  leaf '67. 

Estate  of  Philip  Knight. 

Administration  upon  the  estate  of  Philip  Knight,  granted  24 :  9 : 
1668,  to  his  wife  Margery,  who  brought  in  an  inventory  amounting 
to  1061i.  18s.  Court  ordered  to  the  eldest  son,  201i.,  and  10H.  each  to 
Philip,  Rebeca,  Elizabeth  and  Mary,  at  age  or  at  marriage,  and  the 
widow  was  bound  for  the  children's  portions.  Salem  Quarterly  Court 
Records,  vol.  5,  leaf  16. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Phillipe  Knight,  taken  by  John  Putnam 
and  Thomas  Fuller:  Two  cows,  81i.;  two  oxen,  141L;  two  steres,  91i; 
two  young  cattle,  41L;  one  mare,  51i.;  five  swine,  51L;  feather  bed 
with  furniture,  91L;  puter,  15s.;  wereing  clothes,  41i.;  wooding  lum- 
ber, 61i.;  Beefe  &  porcke,  21L;  Irron  were,  81i.  16s.;  Brasse  were,  21i. 
12s.;  Indian  Corne,  61L;  Rie  &  Barley,  21i.;  hoopes,  31i.;  hempe  & 
flax,  31i.;  Cotton  woole,  21L;  two  beeds  &  furniture,  51i.;  five  pare  of 
shetes,  31i.  10s.;  three  pare  of  pillowbyes,  15s.;  table  cloth  &  napkines, 
Hi.;  five  sackes  ■&  winno  shette,  Hi.;  new  Cloth  &  one  Wallett,  Hi. 
10s.;  total,  1061L  18s. 

There  were  five  children,  Jonathan,  aged  26  years ;  Phillep,  aged 
23  years;  Rebeca,  aged  17  years;  Eliza,  aged  13  years;  Mary,  aged 
11  years.     Essex  County  Quarterly  Court  Files,  vol  13,  leaf  121. 

Estate  of  Thomas  Dorman,  Sr. 

"this  is  the  laste  will  and  testiment  of  Thomas  Dorman  senier  be- 
ing about  seuenty  yeres  oulde  being  parfeft  in  understanding  and 
memory  my  fether  bed  and  boulster  I  giue  to  my  sun  Thomas  and 
my  ruge  and  thre  blakits  I  giue  to  my  sun  Ephrain  my  bigiste  Iirne 
pot  I  give  to  my  sun  Thomas  and  my  to  litle  pots  to  my  suii  Ephraim 
and  toe  tramiles  the  one  for  Thomas  and  the  other  for  Ephraim  I 
giue  to  my  sun  Thomas  my  grate  timber  Chaine  and  one  drafte 
Chaine  and  to  Ephraim  the  other  tooe  draft  Chaines  and  to  my  sun 
Thomas  the  spanshakle,  I  exsept  toe  peticots  and  toe  waskuts  and 
a  pair  of  bodis  which  I  giue  to  my  Cussun  Daniell  bradly  all  the  rest 
of  my  housoll  stuf  and  goods  I  giue  to  my  sun  Thomas  tooe  parts 
and  my  sun  Ephraim  one  parte  and  my  land  in  Rouly  bounds  I  giue 
to  my  tooe  suns  to  dispos  of  it  equily  tovthare  best  Content  I  giue  to 
my  sun  Thomas  all  that  land  that  I  bout  of  Mr  Simans  all  housing 
and  fensis  that  are  about  it  and  all  preuiligis  that  doe  or  may  belong 
to  it  exsepting  my  land  on  the  south  sid  of  the  Riuer  that  I  giue  the 


108  PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

one  halfe  to  my  sun  Thomas  and  the  other  halfe  to  my  sun  Ephraim. 
I  giue  to  my  sun  Ephraim  all  that  land  that  I  had  giuen  me  by  Ibsidg 
and  all  that  land  that  I  bought  of  Euin  moris,  both  these  parsiles  of 
land  and  medow  that  belongs  to  them  and  all  Rights  that  doe  or  may 
belong  to  them :  my  shep  I  giue  to  my  sun  Thomasis  Children  my 
hors  and  my  buluks  I  giue  to  both  my  suns  to  part  as  thay  shall  see 
good  fouer  days  worke  and  a  halfe  that  John  worner  oweth  me  for : 
and  thre  days  and  a  halfe  that  Thomas  day  oweth  me  for :  thre  pekes 
of  indien  Corne  and  halfe  a  days  worke  Roberd  stiles  oweth  me  and 
thirtene  shilings  goodman  bigsbe  oweth  me :  and  I  doe  owe  him  for 
four  days  plowing  one  bushall  of  indian  Corne  I  owe  to  wiliam  white 
of  ipsige  I  owe  to  Robert  Cobarnd  halfe  a  bushall  of  indian  Corne 
tooe  bushales  of  whet  Thomas  hobs  doth  ow  me  John  morall  doth  ow 
me  ten  shilings  twenty  shilings  wiliam  smith  oweth  me  that  I  giue 
to  my  sun  Thomas  for  twenty  shilings  I  ow  him  with  that  allso  that 
worner  and  day  and  micall  dounill  oweth  me.  I  give  it  to  my  sun 
Thomis  and  that  ten  shilins  that  John  morall  oweth  me  all  so ;  thre' 
pound  that  mathu  standly  oweth  me  :  I  make  Chois  of  my  sun  Thomas 
to  be  my  exseciter  to  pay  all  my  dets  and  to  recouer  all  that  is  owing 
to  me. 

"Dated  the  twenty  forth  day  of  Aprill  one  thousen  six  hundred 
and  seventy." 

[no  signature]. 

Witness :  ffransis  Pebody,  John  How. 

Proved  in  Ipswich  court  May  3,  1670  by  Lt.  Frances  Pabody  and 
John  How.     Essex  County  Probate  Files,  Docket  8,166. 

Estate  of  Thomas  Browning.* 

"The  Last  Will  &  teastiment  of  Thomas  Browning  of  Salem  being 
sicke  in  bodie  yett  of  pfit  understanding  this  16th  day  of  febewari: 
1670  Imprimis  I  doe  apoint  my  wife  to  bee  my  whole  Exceutres 
And  doe  giue  vnto  my  grandchild  Thomas  Towne  twenty  two  pounds : 
which  twelve  pownds  is  in  the  hands  of  his  father  &  ten  pounds  is. 
in  the  hands  of  his  Uncle  Jacob  Towne  :  to  be  paid  to  the  sd  Thomas 
Towne  aforesaid  when  he  come  to  be  twentie  &  one  years  of  Age : 

"Itam  I  giue  After  my  wifes  desence  All  my  land  and  housing  at 
topsfeild,  to  my  daughter  towne  her  husband  &  my  daughter  Simons 
&  her  husband  during  ther  Lives  And  after  their  decease  to  be  dis- 
posed by  the  two  daughters  abousd  to  Children  of  ther  owne  bodies 
Laufully  begotton  Itam  to  my  daughter  Willyams  &  daughter  Mea- 

Thomas  Browning  had  long  lived  in  Topsfield.  His  daughter  married  John 
Perkins  who  died  in  1668. 


PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  109 

..  chum  And  there  husbands  All  my  Land  &  howsing  at  Salem,  After 
my  wifes  deseace  as  aboue  is  Exprest  And  after  there  deseace  to  the 
Children  Laufully  begoten  of  there  owne  bodies  as  abouesaid,  And 
If  anie  of  my  daughters  should  die  without  Issew :  Then  the  estat 
to  be  deuided  among  The  children  of  my  daughters  siruiuing  And 
If  my  wife  should  dy  without  a  will,  then  whatsoeuer  is  Left  to  be 
deuided  betwin  my  fower  daughters  or  there  Chilldren." 

Thomas  (his  £  mark)  Browning. 

Witness:  Joseph  Grafton,  sr.,  George  Gardner. 

"Allsoe  I  desier  my- Louing  freinds  to  see  this  my  will  performed 
As  Mr  Henry  Bartholmew  :  &  Georg  Gardner  &  Joseph  Grafton  senr." 

Proved  in  Salem  court  28 :  4m :  1671  by  the  witnesses. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Browning,  late  deceased,  in 
Salem :  House  &  80  acres  of  upland,  About  twenty  Acers  of  medow 
In  Topsfeild,  1601L;  cattle,  TOIL;  A  house  &  two  Acer  lott  &  fifeteene 
Acers  of  upland,  &  three  Acers  of  medow  in  Salem,  160H.;  A  bed  & 
bedstead,  101i.;  six  p.  of  sheets,  511.;  pillebers  &  table  lining,  21i.; 
wearing  Clothes,  511.;  thre  Chests  &  A  box,  Hi.;  1  small  Table  &  1 
trundle  bedstead  &  Chears,  15s.;  puter,  30s.;  spoones,  siluer  &  tin, 
20s.;  A  small  wine  cup,  5s.;  4  kettels  &  1  pott,  211.  15s.;  1  skellet  & 
2  brass  Candlesticks,  10s.;  1  spitt,  tongs  &  fire  shouels  &  2  hakes  & 
old  Iron,  Hi.  10s.;  warming  pan  &  two  bibles,  Hi.  6s.;  1  mare  &  1 
Cow,  71i.;  debts,  151i.;  debts  owing,  31i. 

Attested  28 :  4 :  1671  by  the  widow. 

Essex  County  Quarterly  Court  Files,  vol.  17,  leaves  90,  91. 

Will  proved  by  oath  of  Mr.  Joseph  Grafton  and  Leift.  George  Gard- 
ner.    Salem  Quarterly  Court  Records,  vol.  5,  leaf  46. 

Guardianship  of  John  Perkins. 

John  Perkings,  aged  sixteen  years,  and  Sarah  Perkings,  aged  be- 
tween fourteen  and  fifteen  years,  made  choice  of  their  father  Mr. 
Wm.  Perkings  to  be  their  guardian,  Sept.  26, 1671.  Ipswich  Quarterly 
Court  Records,  vol.  5,  page  146. 

Estate  of  John  Davis.* 

"May  the  Sixteenth  1672  The  last  will  and  Testement  of  John 
Daues  That  beeing  week  In  body  yet  paflt  in  memori  I  being  In  detted 
to  Mr  batter  of  Salem  feefteene  shilengs  and  fore  pence  and  beeing 
In  detted  to  mr  newman  of  wenoun  twelue  shilen  and  to  goody  mole 
of  Salem  one  shiling  and  to  old  mr  garner   of  Salem   three  sailings 

*Copy,  Ipswich  Quarterly  Court  Records,  vol.  5,  page  203. 


110  PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

and  I  Oe  Danil  borman  one  shiling  Six  pence  and  to  old  mr  baker  of 
Ipswech  ten  penc  and  to  quarter  master  pearke[ns]  ten  penc  and  I  oe 
two  shilings  Six  penc  due  by  Rate  to  the  towne  now  there  are  detes 
that  ar  oeing  to  me  John  french  oth  me  fore  shilings  and  Six  penc 
Robart  Smith  oeth  me  on  shilig  and  Six  penc  and  mikal  bouden  oeth 
mee  hue  pound  fefteene  shi[li]ngs  he  lius  in  [Salem:  copy]  bounds 
and  Jacob  towne  of  Topsfeeld  oeth  me  thirti  pound  thes  two  last 
detes  wil  a  pere  due  by  bil  or  bond  and  I  haue  twente  bushils  of 
Indean  Corne  in  my  masters  Clarkes  house  three  peckes  of  indian 
Corne  Wileam  Pearkens  oeth  mee  and  I  haue  a  her  lock  musket  and 
a  Cutles  and  hanger  After  all  my  detes  ar  payde  the  Rest  of  my  es- 
tate I  despose  of  of  as  follows  To  mare  howe  of  Salem  I  giue  hue 
pounds  I  also  giue  to  Jacob  townes  lame  Child  hue  pounds  1  giue  to 
Samuel  houlet  fore  pound  and  I  give  my  dame  Clarke  ten  pound  and 
I  giue  luk  wackle  twente  shilings  and  I  giue  matha  Clare  mi  masters 
dafter  twenti  shilings  and  I  giue  to  my  master  dafter  willi.  Perkens 
wife  hue  pound  and  I  give  to  John  Robesons  wife  twente  shilings  and 
the  Rest  to  pay  for  diet  and  Charges  and  its  my  wil  that  mi  master 
Clark  and  frances  Pababody  shal  be  my  excecters." 

John  (his  8  mark)  daues. 

Witness :  Euen  (his  I  mark)  Mores,  frances  Pabody. 

Proved  in  Ipswich  court  Mar.  25,  1673  by  Lift.  Francis  Pabody  and 
Evan  Morice ;  and  Frances  Pabody  openly  renounced  his  executor- 
ship. 

Inventory  taken  by  John  Gould  and  John  How :  one  wascpt  and 
payer  of  drawers,  8s.;  one  Doblet  and  payer  of  britches,  18s.;  one 
yard  of  brodcloth.  14s.;  foure  payer  of  stockengs,.18s.;  one  payer  of 
gloves,  2s.  6d.;  one  payer  of  linen  linengs,  5s.;  one  holen  shurt,  8s.; 
one  shurt  cloth,  7s.;  one  How,  2s.;  payer  of  shues,  2s.  6d.;  bandelers 
and  Snapsak,  4s.  6d.;  one  pound  of  powder  and  bulets,  2s.  6d.;  one 
paier  of  tabaco  toungs,  6d.;  bands  and  hancatchers,  12s.;  mony,  8d.; 
too  hats,  2s.;  one  chest,  3s.;  detes  clue  to  John  Davis,  371i.  lis.;  one 
paire  of  stokins  to  Jacob  Towne,  2s.  6d.;  from  willyem  Perkins  one 
bushell   of  Rey,  4s.;  total,  431i.  7s.  8d.     Debts  he  oweth  :  for  feseck 

and  Cordulls  to  Mr.  Numan,  — ;  to  Mr.  Batter  of  Salem, ;  ten 

months  diet  or  thareabouts  and  his  burriell,  151i.;  to  Mr.  Rogers  for 
Phisek,  4s.;  to  goody  Pabody,  4s.;  Jorny  to  Rouly  to  ye  docters  to 
John  How,  2s.;  goodwife  mole  of  Salem,  Is.;  old  Mr.  Gardner,  3s.; 
Rate  to  the  Towne,  2s.  6d. 

Attested  in  Ipswich  court  Mar.  25,  1673  by  Daniell  Clarke,  the 
executor. 

Essex  County  Probate  Files,  Docket  7,279. 


probate  records  relating  to  topsfield.  ill 

Estate  of  William  Towne. 

Administration  granted  24 :  4 :  1673  to  Johana  Towne  on  the  estate 
of  Wm.  Towne,  her  late  husband,  and  she  was  to  bring  in  an  inven- 
tory to  the  next  Ipswich  court.  Salem  Quarterly  Court  Records,  vol. 
5,  leaf  66. 

Petition  for  settlement  of  a  small  estate  left  the  undersigned  by 
their  father,  who  died  ten  years  ago  leaving  no  will,  but  left  his  estate 
in  the  hands  of  their  mother  who  was  appointed  administratrix  and 
the  estate  remained  unsettled  until  her  death,  and  now  they  desire  that 
the  following  division  may  be  allowed  :  the  land  to  be  divided  equally 
to  his  three  sons,  Edrhond,  Jacob  and  Joseph  and  the  moveables  equally 
to  the  three  daughters,  Rebecka,  Mary,  and  Sarah ;  also  the  three 
brothers  to  pay  all  debts  now  due  and  what  charges  shall  after  arise 
in  settlement  of  the  estate  to  be  equally  borne  by  all  six. 

Dated  Jan.  17,  1682.  Signed  by  Mary  (her  mark)  Towne  relict  of 
Edmond,  Jacob  Towne,  Josep  (his  mark)  Towne,  Francis  (his  mark) 
Nurs  with  the  consent  of  Rebeka,  Mary  (her  mark)  Estey  formerly 
Mary  Towne,  Sarah  (her  mark)  Bridges. 

Witness:  John  How,  John  Pritchet. 

Allowed  by  the  court  at  Ipswich  Apr.  10, 1683.  Ipsivich  Deeds,  vol. 
4,  page  515. 

Estate  of  Robert  Andrews.* 

"The  will  and  testomony  of  robort  Andrus  I  doe  Commit  my  Soul 
and  body  to  the  keping  of  the  gra  lord  of  oste  and  if  it  be  his  good 
wile  to  Cal  me  out  of  this  world  that  i  retorne  not  a  gaine  to  my 
frindes  and  estate  that  god  hath  given  me  i  doe  wile  and  beques  to 
each  of  my  brothers  and  sisters  twenti  shilens  a  pese  and  flue  pound 
to  marey  towne  and  the  rest  of  my  estat  when  my  detes  ar  payed  to  be 
&£  equally  deuided  ||belwen||  my  mother  ||and||  broth's  John  and  Joseph 
Andrus  and  dow  make  my  brother  Samuel  Symonds  my  exsekter  to 
louk  after  the  true  performens  of  this  my  las  wile  and  dow  giue  him 
that  which  ensin  goule  ad  danel  blaike  doth  owe  to  me  ad  this  is  my 
true  wile  ad  testamoni  as  witnes  my  hand  this  6  day  of  desember  in 
the  year  of  our  lord  1675." 

Robard  Andrufs]. 

Witness  :  Samuel  Symonds,  Josue  Bisson. 

Proved  in  Ipswich  court  Mar.  28,  1676  by  the  witnesses. 

*Robert  Andrews  lived  just  over  the  line  in  Boxford  but  was  closely  identified 
with  Topsfield. 


112  PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Robard  Androus,  taken  by  Abraham 
Reddington  and  John  Gould  who  were  chosen  by  Samuel  Symons:  2 
oxen,  101i.;  1  Coue,  41i.;  3  piges,  Hi.;  1  parcell  of  flaxe,  Hi.  12s.;  1 
mare,  21i.;  1  new  bariell,  3s.  6d.;  1  old  bariell,  2s.;  1  parcill  of  befe 
and  suate,  211.;  1  parcill  of  porke,  Hi.  15s.;  1  parcill  of  clothes,  41i. 
4s.;  nailes,  6s.;  1  chest,  16s.;  1  saddell  and  stuirup  and  sturips  Lethers, 
Hi.  Is.  4d.;  1  bridall,  rains  and  bits,  4s.;  4  axes,  1  howe,  2  okers,  Hi.; 
2  boshiall  of  wheat,  12s.;  2  boshiall  of  rie,  9s.;  "22  boshiall  of 
Indon  Corne,  31i.  17s.;  5  boshiall  of  Lime,  5s.;  1  siseth  and  takiling 
to  et,  4s.  6d.;  1  pike,f4s.;  ye  halfe  part  of  a  whipswa,  4s.;  2  weges, 
3svj  1  gr.  21b.  bar  Iron,  6s.  6d.;  1  share  and  Coulter,  6s.;  1  slead,  3s.; 
1  brake,  Is.;  1  mine  Carte,  oo.;  total,  361i.  18s.  lOd. 

The  remainder  of  the  inventory  taken  by  Abraham  Redington, 
Samuel  (his  O  mark)  burtt :  a  lese  of  medowe,  31i.  Is.  6d.;  tene  akers 
of  earabel  land  and  medo,  251i.;  the  house,  281i.;  a  hundred  and  fiftie 
akers  of  land,  150H.;  a  sarg  sute,  Hi.  8s.;  a  bybel,  5s.;  a  short,  3s.; 
sadel  Cloth,  2s.;  lq  and  26  pound  of  bar  Eiren,  lis.  6d.;  total,  2081i. 
lis.     The  deptes  ar  that  do  as  yet  appear,  221i.  5s.  6d. 

Attested  in  Ipswich  court  Mar.  28,  1676  by  Samuell  Symonds, 
executor. 

Essex  County  Probate  Files,  Docket  710. 

Estate  of  Jonathan  Wildes. 

Administration  upon  the  estate  of  Jonathan  Wiles,  intestate,  grant- 
ed 30  :  4 :  1676  to  John  Wiles  who  made  oath  to  the  inventory. 

Salem  Quarterly  Court  Records,  vol.  5,  leaf  96. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Johnnathan  Wills,  taken  June  28,  1676 
by  John  How  and  William  Aver[ill]:  a  mar  and  ould  sadell,  21i.;  a 
small  Gun,T5s.;  thre  saws,  18s.;  a  beres,  5s.;  Broad  ax,  5s.;  square, 
2s.  6d.;  mortis  auger,  2s.;  ould  lorans,  Is.  6d.;  an  ould  ax,  2s.;  an 
inch  auger  and  a  payer  of  Chisells,  3s.  6d.  There  is  a  parsell  of  Land 
about  15  akers  which  was  to  be  Johnnathan's  after  his  fathers  decase : 
this  to  be  consederd  wither  to  be  in  the  Inventory  or  no. 

Allowed  in  Salem  court  30:  4:  1676. 

Essex  County  Quarterly  Court  Files,  vol.  25,  leaf  63. 

Estate  of  William  Pritchett. 

Administration  upon  the  estate  of  William  Pritchett,  intestate,  was 
granted  Feb.  13,  1676-7,  to  John  Pritchet,  his  eldest  son,  who  was  to 
bring  in  an  inventory  to  the  next  Ipswich  court. 

Ipswich  Quarterly  Court  Records,  vol.  5,  page  284. 


PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  113 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  William  Prechard  taken  27 :  1 :  1677  by 
Thomas  Chaniler  and  Thomas  Baker :  a  house  and  20  ackers  of  up- 
land and  three  ackers  and  a  halfe  of  medow  Lying  in  topsfield  and 
six  ackers  of  medow  in  Ipswich  in  the  west  medow  701i.;  4  cows  on 
three  yere  old  and  3  yearlins,  1911.;  2  phather  Beeds  and  4  rugs, 
bolsters,  91i.,  5s.;  4  payer  of  sheets  and  on  ode  on  and  tow  pillowbers, 
21i.  13s.;  jack,  wheele,  mele  trofe,  saddle  and  musket,  21i,  13s.;  payer 
of  showse,  old  putter,  tramell  and  pothoks,  15s.;  cotton  wheele,  iorn 
pot,  a  chase,  a  bocks,  a  friing  pan,  15s.  6d.;  old'  barell,  chane,  plow 
tackling,  12s.  9d.;  debt  due  to  the  estate,  41i.  15s.;  total,  1091L  9s.  3d. 

The  Land  at  Bioukfild  that  was  my  fathers  and  my  Brothers  and 
the  quarter  part  of  the  mill  thire  that  was  my  fathers  is  not  put  into 
this  envoys.  The  debts  due  from  the  estate :  to  Majer  Pinching,  91i. 
5s.;  Mr.  John  Pinching  in  mony,  llli.  12s.;  Samuell  Ela  in  mony,  21i. 
lis.;  dacken  Goodhugh,  41i.  12s.;  dacken  Knolten,  31i.  lis.;  William 
Howard,  21i.  7s.;  Samuell  Hart,  6s.;  my  si.lfe  for  charg  and  exspenc 
to  harford,  311..  8s.;  clothing  for  my  mother,  51i.  15s.  9d.;  wintering 
tow  cowse,  Hi.  10s.;  prisers  and  records,  7s.  6d.;  a  debt  due  to  my 
father  denison,  Hi.  10s.  10d.;  debt  due  to  the  marshall,  10s.;  total, 
471i.  6s,.  Id. 

Attested  in  Ipswich  court  Mar.  27,  1677  by  John  Pritchet  adminis- 
trator of  the  estate  of  his  father,  Wm.  Pritchet. 

Division  of  the  estate  of  William  Prichard  deceased  :  to  the  woman, 
101i.;  to  John  Prechard,  131i.;  to  William,  Joseph,  Elizabeth  and  Sarih, 
61i.  10s.  each ;  to  Mary,  21i.  5s.;  Hanah,  21i.;  Esther,  21i.  3s.  The 
land  at  Brokenld  and  the  mill  John  to  have  one  half  and  William  and 
Joseph  the  other  half. 

Allowed  by  the  Ipswich  court  Mar.  27,  1677. 

Essex  County  Probate  Files,  Docket  22,818. 

Estate  of  Isaac  Cummings,  Sr. 

"The  Last  will  and  testament  of  Isaac  Comins  Senier.  I  being 
Sencabl  of  my  approaching  desolution  being  att  present  weak  in  body 
yet  perfect  in  my  vnderstanding :  haueing  by  the  grace  of  god  bene 
helped  to  provid  for  my  futur  state  in  another  world,  doe  now  in 
ordering  of  what  god  hath  been  pleased  to  bestow  upon  me  of  the 
blesings  of  this  life  take  Care  and  order  that  in  the  first  place  my 
debts  be  duly  payd  :  nextly  I  doe  by  this  my  last  will  and  testament 
confirme  to  my  Son  Isaac  the  ten  Acres  of  division  Land  on  the  South 
Side  of  the  great  riuer  be  it  more  or  less  :  nextly  I  doe  give  unto  my 
Son  in  Law  John  jewet  ten  pounds  part  in  Cattel  and  part  in  hous- 
hould  goods  :  nextly  I  doe  will  and  bequeath  to  my  grand  Son  Isaac  : 
the  Son  of  my  Son  Isaac   on  year  old  hefer  on  littel  Sow  the  indian 


114  PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

corne  which  he  hath  planted  for  himself  and  the  flax  which  he  hath 
Sowne  item  I  doe  giue  unto  him  my  chest  the  2d  in  bignes  with  the 
lock  and  key  :  item  my  history  book  with  Such  books  as  are  his  owne : 
i  e  a  bibl  and  testament  item  I  do  giue  him  ten  pounds  to  be  payd  att 
Seuenteen  years  of  age  in  Country  pay  item  I  doe  giue  vnto  my  Son  in 
Law  John  pease  thirty  pounds  to  be  pay  out  of  the  stock  of  Cattell 
and  houshould  goods  as  much  as  may  be  att  present :  and  the  rest 
in  two  years:  item :  I  doe  make  my  Son  John  my  sole  executor  and 
doe  giue  unto  him  my  house  and  Lands  being  fourty  Acres  more  or 
less  consisting  of  upland  and  meddow  with  all  the  priviledges  and 
Emmolvments  ther  of  and  apurtainances  therunto  belonging :  pro- 
vided that  this  land  shall  stand  bound  in  part  and  in  wholl  for  the 
payment  of  these  Leagacyes  and  in  case  that  the  sayd  legacyes  shal 
not  be  payd  according  to  this  my  will :  the  land  shall  be  sould  and 
payment  made  out  of  the  price  thereof :  and  the  remainder  shall  be 
the  executors :  :  item  my  will  further  is  that  if  any  of  these  my  chil- 
dren shall  through  discontent  att  what  is  done  for  them  in  this  my 
will :  Cause  troubl  to  arise  to  the  executor  then  there  shall  be  noth- 
ing payd  to  him  or  them  but  the  Legacy  or  Legacyes  willed  to  them 
shall  return  too  and  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  executor  as  his  proper 
right :  dated  the  8th  of  the  3d  mth  1677. 

'my  desir  farther  is  that  Isaac  ffoster  and  Thomas  Dorman  would 
take  Care  that  this  my  will  be  duly  performed." 

Isaac  Cummings  Sr 

Witness :  John  (his  f  mark)  poore,  Sr.,  Thomas  Dorman,  Isaac 
Foster. 

Proved  June  14,  1677  by  Thomas  Dorman  and  Isack  Foster  before 
Samuell  Symonds,  Esq.,  Dep.  Gov.  and  Maj.  Gen.  Denison,  Esq. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Isake  Comings,  Senior,  late  of  Topsfield, 
taken  May  22,  1677  by  John  Whipple  and  John  How  :  a  Cloth  Sute, 
21i.;  a  Grey  sute,  Hi.  15s.;  6  yds  of  cloth  with  butons  silk  &  thred  as 
they  cost  at  the  merchants,  Hi.  19s.  3d.;  an  old  Grat  Coat,  9s.;  wascot, 
6s.;  payer  of  Gren  brchis  &  two  payer  of  drawers,  9s.;  3  payer  of 
shoos,  Is.;  5  payer  of  stokins,  8s.;  4  shirts,  10s.;  7  caps,  7s.;  one  slke 
Cape,  4s.;  10  bandes,  10s.;  7  handcerchrs,  3s.  6d.;  4  hates,  8s.;  cloth 
hood  &  startups,  Is.  6d.;  fether  beed,  bolser  &  pillow,  41i.;  nu  cover- 
let, 24s.;  an  old  Civerlit,  5s.;  Curtins  &  valants,  beedsted,  Cord  & 
matt,  Hi.  10s.;  smale  beed  with  a  pilow  &  a  Rugge,  Hi.  15s.  6d.;  one 
payer  of  sheetes,  30s.;  &  other  payer,  16s.;  one  payer  of  sheets,  I8s.; 
one  sheet,  7s.;  3  pilowbers,  6s.;  3  napkins,  3s.  6(\.\  2  table  cloths,  5s.  6d.; 
7  towels,  5s.  6d.;  thre  sacks,  one  willit,  one  bage,  10s.;  3  small  Rem- 
nants of  Cloth,  2s.  6d.;  flax  and  tow,  6s.;  6  pownd  of  cotton  woole, 
6s.;  a  broad  howe,  2s.;  one  broad  how,  3s.  6i\.;  an  Iron  foot,  Is.  6i\.\ 
3  haye  forks,  4s.  (jd.;  an   Iron   spitt,   3s.;  ades,   5s.;  handsawe,   2s. 


PROBATE   RECORDS  RELATING   TO  TOPSFIELD.  115 

6d.;  axe,  3s.  6d.;  old  spad,  3s.;  betle  &  4  wedgis,  6s.;  a  mare,  40s.; 
yearling  colt,  15s.;  Sadie  &  panel  with  bridle,  gurts  &  crooper,  20s.; 
brase  pott,  20s.;  one  Iron  pott,  9s.,  two  payer  of  pott  hooks,  Hi.  12s.; 
an  old  Ketle,  6s.,  3s.  6d.,  bras  candlstik,  4s.,  potlid,  Is.,  14s.  6d.;  pew- 
ter, 18s.;  tine  9d.;  one  glac,  Is.;  5  spons,  2s.;  earthn  ware,  6s.  8d.; 
tramell,  tongs,  bellis,  12s.;  hamer,  pinchers,  5s.;  fann,  3s.;  Chern,  5s.; 
a  nu  powdering  tub,  3s.  6d.;  4  paiels,  7s.  8d.;  2  Kelers,  4s.;  old 
powdring  tub,  Is.;  two  old  barels,  2s.;  half  bushel,  peck,  halfe  peck, 
3s.  6d.;  4  trayes,  4s.;  4  bouls,  4s.;.  dishes  &  Ladle,  Is.  8d.;  one  duz. 
trenchers,  Is.;  two  barels,  5s.;  3  sives,  3s.;  3  cluiyers,  7s.;  a  litle  table 
&  form,  4s.;  desk,  6s.;  one  chest,  lis.  6d.;  two  old  chests,  4s.;  3  books, 
10s.;  chest,  5s.;  two  books,  10s.;  corn,  10s.;  malt,  6s.;  baken,  3s.; 
Kneding  trof,  2s.;  warming  Pann,  fring  pan,  10s.;  eight  swine,  51i.; 
3  cowes,  121i.;  one  2  yer  old  ster,  one  yerling,  161i.  2s.;  howsing  and 
Lands  with  all  priveledges  &  apurtenances,  upland  and  meado  is 
about  40  accers,  1001i.;  depts  due  to  the  estat,  411.;  total,  166H.  Is. 
6d.     Depts  due  from  the  estat  about  191L  16s.  15d. 

Attested  June  14,  1677  by  John  Comings  to  be  a  true  inventory  of 
his  father's  estate.  Essex  County  Probate  Files,  Docket  6,705. 

Estate  of  John  Wild,  Jr. 

"This  may  satisfy  whome  it  may  concarne :  that  I  John  Wilde 
Juner  haue  Resaiued  of  my  ffather  that  Land  which  he  promised  to 
my  brother  Johnnathan :  and  was  ingaged  to  him  and  to  my  salfe  by 
our  Grandfather  Gould  or  fifty  Pounds  to  be  paied  and  than  my  father 
Redemed  his  land  againe  and  I  doe  herby  declar  that  my  ffather  hath 
satisfied  and  paied  me  both  what  was  promised  or  in  gaged  to  my 
Brother  Johnnathen  and  to  my  salfe  to  my  full  satisfaction  and  the 
intant  of  this  is  that  my  father  may  com  to  no  trobell  by  any  claime 
of  my  onkell  Gould :  the  fifty  pounds  that  was  in  Gaged  to  me  and 
my  brother  Johnnathen  is  paied  to  me  by  my  father  to  my  full  con- 
tent in  part  of  that  land  which  was  formerly  goodman  dormans  And 
now  I  being  prest  to  go  to  the  war  being  desirous  to  satell  things  be- 
for  I  goo  :  not  knowing  how  God  may  daell  with  me  in  respact  of 
Returning  againe:  If  I  doe  not  Returne  againe:  than  I  doe  dispose 
of  ||what||  God  hath  Given  me  as  foloweth:  I  haue  flue  Sistors  and 
one  Brother  Sarah  Elisabath  :  Phabe :  Pracelah  :  martha  :  and  Eph- 
rem  and  my  will  is  that  my  land  at  Hauerell  and  at  topsffeld  and  my 
mouabells  be  Equaly  deuided  amongst  all  the  aboue  named  Sistors 
and  brother :  and  Let  the  lands  be  prised  and  thos  that  haue  ye  lands 
shall  paye  to  the  other  that  which  is  there  proporshon :  :  and  I  doe 
hereby  apint  my  Honered  ffather  and  Louing  onkell  John  Radington 
to  be  admenistrators  of  this  Estate:  and  to  paye  all  my  debts  out  of 


116  PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

the  Estat  be  fore  it  be  deuided  :  and  this  is  my  last  will  and  testement 
in  wetnes  whereof  I  have  Set  too  my  hand  this  too  and  twentieth 
day  of  October  one  thousan  Six  hundred  Seventy  and  Six  :  :  ye  22 :  of 
October  1676 :"  John  Wild,  Juner : 

Witness :  John  How,  Marah  How. 

Proved  in  Ipswich  court  Sept.  25,  1677  by  the  witnesses. 

"This  is  to  declare  that  I  John  wild  of  topsfeald  do  purpos  and  in- 
tend that  my  formor  will  writen  in  October :  before  my  going  to  the 
Eastward  shall  stand  good :  prouided  it  be  the  will  of  god  I  retur  not 
again  writen  the  :  22  of  June :  77."  John  Wild. 

Witness :  John  Herrick,  Sarah  (her  O  mark)  bishop. 

Inventory  taken  Sept.  27,  1677,  by  Thomas  Perkins  and  William 
Auerell :  a  percell  of  upland  and  medow  which  hee  does  by  writing 
under  his  hand  acknowledge  to  have  received  of  his  father  in  lieu  of 
501i.,  501i.;  a  peece  of  Indian  corn  on  the  ground  prised  at  six  bushells, 
18s.;  four  sheep,  Hi.  10s.;  three  ould  woolin  garments,  14s.;  a  sarge 
westcote  and  som  ould  linin,  4s.;  an  Iron  pott,  7s.;  and  ould  saddle, 
3s.;  three  saws,  16s.;  two  ould  axes,  5s.;  two  Iron  wedges,  3s.;  two 
chisills,  Is.  6d.;  one  augre,  Is.  6d.;  a  pair  of  beetle  Rings,  Is.  6d.; 
som  sheep  wooll  not  apearing  how  much  Rests  unprised.  Debts  due 
to  him,  Hi.  Is.  8d.  The  debts  he  oweth  the  credithers  not  haveing 
given  in  their  acounts  remain  uncertain. 

Delivered  in  Ipswich  court  Sept.  25, 1677  as  a  true  inventory  of  the 
estate  of  John  Wildes,  Jr.     Essex  County  Probate  Files,  Docket  29,826. 

Estate  of  Edmond  Towne. 

"The  Intent  and  purpose  of  Edmond  Towne  presented  by  mary  his 
wife  Conscernin  his  estate  presented  to  this  Hounored  Court  now  sit- 
ting Imprimis  The  minde  of  the  deceased  was  as  is  mine  allsoe;  and 
is  consented  too  by  all  partysconscernd  that  the  four  sonns  shall  haue 
all  the  Lands  Equally  devyded  amongst  them,  And  the  rest  of  the 
estate  to  be  Equally  devyded  amongst  the  5 :  garles  only  Sarah  the 
secong  Daughter  is  already  marryed  and  Hath  rescievd  to  the  vallue 
of  twelve  pounds  already.  Soe  Leaveing  my  Cause  to  god,  and  to 
your  Honnors  searious  Consideration  I  subscrybe  myselfe  mary 
Towne.  Only  provided  that  the  widow's  thirds  of  the  whole  be  taken 
out  fust.  Jacob  Towne  deposed  that  Thomas  Towne,  eldest  son  of 
Edmund  Towne,  deceased,  declared  himself  to  be  satisfied  with  an 
equal  share  with  the  rest  of  his  brethren."  Sworn  in  court,  27:  4 :  1678. 

Proved  by  the  widow,  27 :  4 :  1678,  with  the  consent  of  all  the 
surviving  persons  concerned. 

Essex  County  Quarterly  Court  Files,  vol.  29,  leaf  30. 

Administration   upon  the  estate  of  Edmond   Towne  was  granted 


PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  117 

27 :  4 :  1678,  to  Mary,  the  relict,  who  was  to  dispose  of  the  estate  ac- 
cording to  the  mind  of  the  deceased,  as  by  mutual  agreement  of  all 
surviving  persons  concerned,  which  writing  was  allowed.  An  in- 
ventory was  also  presented  and  sworn  to. 

Salem  Quarterly  Court  Records,  vol.  5,  leaf  111. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Sergeant  Edman  Towne,  taken  at  Tops- 
field,  May  3,  1678,  by  Frances  Pabody  and  Thomas  Baker:  Books, 
Hi.;  wearing  clothes,  71i.  14s.;  linning  sheetes  and  neckpins,  llli.  6s.; 

f  house  and  landes  on  the  north  of  the  Riuer,  2201i.;  upland  and  mado 
on  the  south  side  River,  721L;  five  oxen  and  seven  coues,  521L;  young 
Cattel,  191i.T7s.;  shepe  and  lambes,  61L;  two  horses,  71i.;  swine,  81i.; 
iron  tooles,  31i.;  kittels  and  potes  and  other  iron  ware,  41i.  4s.;  peuter 
and  earthing  ware  and  glas,  21i.  15s.;  swordes  and  gones,  41i.  6s.; 
wheles  and  other  lumbur,  61i.  3s.;  a  cubbard  and  cheastes,  21i.  10s.; 
bedsted  and  beddin,  161i.  10s.;  pillin  and  saddel,  21i.;  wooll  and  flax, 
17s.;  five  barrels  of  sider,  21i.  10s.;  wollin  and  linnin  yarne,  21i.  10s.; 
home  spon  cloath,  71i.  10s.;  corne  and  porke,  41i.;  for  halfe  the  farme 
which  was  given  to  Sargent  Toune  in  Revertion  by  Thomas  Brown- 
ing ;  total,  45311.  12s.  Depts  owing,  2611  3s.  3d.;  by  the  death  of  one 
cow,  31i.  10s.     Allowed  in  Salem  court  27 :  4 :  1678. 

Essex  County  Quarterly  Court  Files,  vol  29,  leaf  31. 

Acknowledgment  of  John  How,  dated  Mar.  5,  1679-80,  of  the  re- 
ceipt from  his  mother  Towne,  executrix  to  the  estate  of  his  father 
Towne,  of  his  wife's  portion. 

Acknowledgment  of  Abigaile  Peabody,  dated  Mar.  21,  1694-5,  of 
the  receipt  from  her  mother  Towne  of  her  portion. 

Acknowledgment  of  Rebecca  Knitte,  dated  June  2,  1698,  of  the  re- 
ceipt from  mother  Towne  of  her  portion. 

Acknowledgment  of  John  Prichett  and  his  wife,  dated  July  27, 
1698,  of  the  receipt  of  her  portion., 

The  widow  Mary  Towne  of  Topsfield  testified  in  Ipswich  court, 
Sept.  6,  1714,  that  as  administratrix  of  her  husband's  estate,  she  had 
paid  to  Thomas  Wilkins  who  married  one  of  her  daughters,  her  por- 
tion of  the  estate.       Essex  County  Probate  Records,  vol.  311,  page  181. 

An  agreement  made  between  Thomas  Towne,  William  (his  W 
mark)  Towne,  Joseph  Town  and  Samuel  Town,  all  of  Topsfield, 
that  whereas  the  court  settled  the  lands  of  our  father,,  Edmond 
Town  of  Topsfeild  upon  us,  and  also  our  mother  Mrs.  Mary 
Town  hath  given  to  us  her  share  of  land  which  belonged  to  our 
grandfather  Thomas  Browning,  and  we  have  divided  all  the  said 
lands  amongst  ourselves  as  is  hereafter  expressed  (excepting  only 
two  acres  and  a  half  of  medow  of  said  Browning's  which  our 
mother  hath   given   by  her  will   to   our  sisters):     "Thomas   Town 


118  PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO   TOPSFIELD. 

hath  two  twenty  acre  lotts  in  the  first  Division  where  he  now  dwels 
and  about  six  acres  of  medow  joyning  to  his  Land  and  to  the  Rever 
also  about  foure  acres  of  medow  Lyeing  betwen  Beverely  medows 
and  Wenham  medows  which  he  had  of  our  father  for  Twenti  and 
Two  pounds  willed  to  him  by  our  grandfather  Browning." 

William  Town's  share  of  upland  "is  all  that  which  was  our  fathers 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Rever  where  he  now  dwells  as  also  a  peace 
of  medow  of  about  three  acres  joyning  eastward  on  Jacob  Easte  and 
westward  upon  Joseph  Town  and  also  six  acres  of  medow  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Rever  over  against  his  dore." 

Joseph  Town's  share  is  "all  our  fathers  second  devision  where  he 
now  dwells  it  being  about  fifty  acres  also  Three  acres  of  Rever  medow 
joyning  to  Jacob  Este  on  the  west  and  William  Town  on  the  east,  al- 
so foure  acres  of  medow  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rever  joyning  upon 
Joseph  Town  on  the  east  and  on  John  Curtice  on  the  west." 

Samuell  Town's  share  is  "all  the  upland  and  medow  that  was  our 
grandfather  Brownings  on  the  north  side  of  the  Rever  In  which  is 
included  William  Towns  share  of  land  and  medow  which  he  and 
Samuell  Town  bought  of  our  Unkle  James  Symonds,  also  about  an 
acre  and  halfe  of  Revir  medow  joyning  to  Joseph  Town  to  the  west 
and  Jacob  Town  to  the  east." 

Signed  Feb.  1, 1709-10.  Witness:  William  Porter,  Jonathan  Putnam. 

Acknowledged  Dec.  16,  1717,  by  Thomas  Town,  William  Towne, 
Benja.  and  Daniell  Town  sons  of  Joseph  Towne  and  executors  to  their 
father's  will.  Essex  County  Probate  Files,  Docket  27,886. 

Estate  of  Thomas  Howlet.* 

"In  the  name  of  god  Amen  I  Thomas  Howlit  of  Ipswich  in  New- 
ingland  being  at  this  present  time  of  perfit  understanding  &  memory 
Though  weak  in  body.  Comitinge  my  Soule  into  the  handes  of  almyty 
god  &  my  body  to  deasent  buriall  in  hope  of  reserection  to  eternal  1 
life  by  the  power  &  merit  of  Jesus  Christ  my  most  mersyful  father  & 
redemer  doe  thus  dispos  of  the  Temporall  estat  that  god  hath  gracios- 
ly  giuen  me  Imprimis  I  Giue  to  Rebeka  my  wiff :  one  Cow  and  two 
heyfers  that  ar  Caled  hurs  also  my  litle  Grey  mare  :  Also  I  giue  to  my 
wiff  an  anvety  of  fiue  pownds  a  yeare :  to  be  pd  yearly :  fluty  shil- 
ings  in  Corne  And  fiuety  shilings  in  Catle :  the  Corne  part  to  be  pd 
half  in  wheat  &  malt  and  the  other  half  in  indian  Corn :  this  to  be  pd 
at  Ipswich  wher  my  wife  shal  appoint :  also  that  my  wifes  goods  be 
returned  to  her  she  brought  It  I  Giue  to  my  Son  Samull  Howlit  fiuety 
accers  of  land  by  mecher  of  that  which  I  formerly  intended  for  my 
Son  John  Howlet  &  also  two  twenty  Accer  lots  in  the  thick  woods  in 

*Thomas  Howlet  lived  in  Ipswich  on  the  border  line  next  to  Topsfield  and  was 
mainly  identified  with  the  latter  town. 


PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD.  119 

topsfeild  &  also  foure  Accers  of  medo.  [It  I  giue  to  my  dafter  Sarah 
Comings  fower  accers  of  the  hasakey  medo  lying  at  the  moth  It  I 
Giue  to  my  son  Samull  howlet  the  rest  of  the  hasekey  medow  at  the 
bridg.  written  in  margin]  Also  my  wil  is  that  my  Son  Samull  How- 
let  shall  paye  fluety  shiling  yearly  of  the  anvety  of  hue  powndes  that 
I  haue  Giuen  to  my  wife  in  specea  according  to  my  will  It  I  giue  to 
my  wife  a  Ketle  in  stead  of  a  bed  teck  I  promesed  It  I  Giue  to  my 
dafter  Sarah  Comings  4  pownds  to  ||be||  pd  with  in  fowr  yeares  after 
my  desseas  if  she  be  liuing  elc  to  her  heyers :  Also  20s  to  allis  Comins 
at  her  mariag  or  at  18  yers  of  age  It  for  my  dafter  mary  perly  I  haue 
Giuen  her  twenty  thre  pownds  which  my  wil  is  shud  be  made  up 
fiuty  powndes  the  one  half  of  it  within  a  year  after  my  Desseas  the 
other  half  within  thre  years  after  my  desseas 

"It  I  Giue  to  mary  Howlit  my  Son  John  Howlits  dafter  forty  flue 
pownds  to  be  pd  to  her  at  the  age  of  eighten  years  or  at  her  day  of 
maryag,  if  she  liue  not  to  receiu  it  then  my  will  is  that  ther  shal  be 
ten  pownds  pd  to  my  Son  John  Howlits  wiff  Lastly  I  ordain  my  Son 
william  Howlit  my  Sole  executor  of  this  my  last  wil  and  testyment 
to  whom  I  giue  my  depts  being  pd  all  the  rest  of  my  estat  housing 
Lands  Goods  &  catle  Utensils  of  all  sorts  and  depts  from  whome  so- 
euer  due  unto  him  &  his  heyers  foreuer.  I  doe  appoint  my  Louing 
freinds  Capt.  John  Applton  :  major  Samull  Applton  and  John  whippl 
senior  the  ouerseers  of  this  my  last  will  and  Testement :  &  I  doe 
herby  Giue  them  power  to  determin  any  differanc  that  maye  arise 
betwen  my  executor  and  any  of  the  Legetes  aforsaid  a  bought  the 
payments  aforesaid  It  my  will  is  that  my  Son  Thomas  Howlits  wife 
shall  injoy  that  hundred  accers  of  land  I  possesed  him  of  til  his  eldest 
dafter  be  at  the  age  of  eighten  years  or  at  her  daye  of  mariag  &  then 
she  shal  Injoy  one  quarter  of  it :  also  when  my  Son  Thomas  howlits 
yongest  dafter  is  of  the  age  of  eighten  years  or  at  her  daye  of 
mariag  she  shal  injoy  on  quarter  of  the  hundred  accers  giuen  to  her 
sd  father :  &  after  ther  mothers  desseas  they  shal  injoy  the  other 
fiuty  accers  equally  deuided  betwen  them  my  wil  is  that  if  one  of 
||  my  ||  Sonn  Thomas  Howlits  dafters  dy  befor  she  is  possesed  of  her 
portion  it  shal  goe  to  her  sister  my  wil  is  that  if  my  Son  Thomas 
howlits  two  dafter  dy  befor  they  are  eighten  years  of  age  or  ar 
maried  that  then  my  dafter  in  lawe  my  Son  Thomas  Howlits  wiff  shal 
injoy  all  the  hunderd  accers  of  land  her  lif  and  at  her  desseas  shall 
paye  out  of  it,  to  my  children  then  living  one  hundred  pownds  which 
shal  be  equally  devided  among  them  in  conformation  wherof  I  hau 
set  to  my  hand  and  seal  this  forth  of  nouember  1677." 

Thomas  (his  T  mark)  Howlit  (seal) 

Witness:  John  Appleton,  Samuell  Appleton,  John  Whipple. 

Proved  in  Ipswich  court  Sept.  24,  1678  by  Capt.  John  Appleton, 
Maj.  Samuell  Appleton,  Capt.  John  Whipple. 


120  PROBATE  RECORDS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Deckon  Thomas  Howlett  taken  10  :  7m : 
1678,  by  John  Gould  and  Abraham  Redington :  5  oxen,  201i.;  2  steres, 
6H.;  2  yearelings,  Hi.  10s.;  5  Coues,  121i.  10s.;  2  heferes  &  bull,  21i. 
10s.;  1  horse,  1  Coult,  31L;  3  Coues,  71i.  10s.;  1  mare,  21i.;  ye  farme 
with  housing,  barne,  orchard,  upland  and  medo  with  one  parcle  of 
march  at  Ipswich,  2001i.;  some  other  percicles  of  land,  1001i.;  16 
sheepe  &  Lams,  18  hoges  &  piges,  71i.;  Clothing  woolon  &  Linnon, 
.1  saddel,  saddel  cloth,  bridell,  pilion  and  pilion  cloth,  131i.  9s.;  1  foul- 
ing pece,  bookes,  1  brosh,  21i.  16s.  4d.;  1  fether  bed,  1  bolster,  2  piloes, 

1  ruge,  81L;  4  chainges,  3  plowes,  shares,  colters,  20  haroe  teeth,  Hi. 
5s.;  3  yoakes,  1  cart  &  wheels,  cart  rope,  4  forkes,  2  siges,  Hi.  10s. 
6d.;  wheges,  betell  rings,  axses,  howes,  1  spade,  14s.  6d.;  1  hadess, 
froe  &  ringer,  12s.;  toules,  chisel,  plaines,  ageres  &  swass,  Hi.  2s.; 
one  heckel  teeth,  smoething  Iron,  could  chisels,  punchies  &  Lantrone, 
4s.;  and  Iron,  spite,  tramiell,  slise,  hath  Iron,  gridiron,  friing  pan, 
tonges,  Hi.  4s.;  old  Iron  &  the  blad  of  a  whipswae,  8s.;  1  bed,  1  blan- 
kat,  1  ruge,  2  bolsters,  Hi.  10s.;  1  coverlide,  2  blankat,  1  bolster,  21i. 
12s.;  2  brass  citteles,  1  brass  Kandelstik,  1  brass  Ladell,  41i.;  1  waring 
pan,  3  Iron  potes,  2  pothookes,  1  Iron  morter,  Hi.  10s.;  5  poringers, 

2  dram  Cups,  1  wine  Cupe,  1  pint  pote,  8s.  9d.;  5  puter  platters,  1  tin 
cittell,  1  tin  pot,  2  tin  pans  &  tunel,  Hi.  7s.  8d.;  earthen  ware,  6  brase 
spones,  7s.  6d.;  small  woodden  ware,  Hi.  9s.  lid.;  4  barieles,  1-2 
bariel,  6  tubes,  2  coueles,  2  salt  boxes,  Hi.  3s.  6d.;  1  Bakin  troofe,  3 
wheeles,  2  melee  troves,  1  chease  press,  Hi.;  1  stand,  1  Cubbord,  2 
tabeles,  1  chest,  1  tronke,  1  boxe,  21i.  2s.  2d.;  2  drie  caske,  1  fane,  5 
chares,  2  chasing,  1  peec  Lether,  19s.;  28  yards  of  nue  woolon  Cloth, 
5li.  12s.;  5  pare  of  sheets,  2  tabele  cloths,  9  napkins,  3  pillobeers,  61i. 
19s.  6d.;  1  pare  of  Curttins,  sarge  golome  &  silke  buttons,  Hi.  17s.; 
Chase  and  yarne,  21i.  Is.;  15  pound  of  sheep  woole,  12  pound  of 
fethers,  21i.  6d.;  4  spones,  1  poringer,  1  sirige,  1  yard  of  genting,  9s. 
6d.;  1  pound  1-2  starch,  Hi.;  plomes,  thred, .silke  &  bone  Lase,  5s.  9d.; 
1  parcell  of  Linon  Cloth,  suger,  spice  &  butter,  Hi.  10s.  6d.;  foueles 
of  all  sorts,  Hi.  10s.;  Indon  Corne  apon  ye  ground,  81i.;  Ingliss  Corne, 
91L  6s.  8d.;  2  sifes,  Is.  4d.;  1  grindstone,  1  plow,  15s.;  total,  4521L  lis. 
4d.  The  dets  of  Deckon  Howlet :  To  Deckon  Goodhue,  61i.  10s.  8  l-2d.; 
Edmun  Hard,  9s.;  Capt.  Whippell,  14s.  in  malt  &  7s.  in  money;  Isaac 
Cummings,  Jr.,  40s.;  Mar.  Francis  Wainewright,  29s.  5d.;  Mr.  John 
Wainwright,  81i.  15s.  9d.;  Goodman  Rust,  4s.  4d.;  Mr.  Darby,  Is.  3d.; 
Elisha  Perkins,  25s.;  more  detes  as  doe  apeire,  121i.  lis.  5d.;  total, 
341i.  7s.  10  l-2d. 

Attested  in  Ipswich  court  Sept.  24,  1678,  by  William  Howlet,  ex- 
ecutor of  his  father's  estate. 

Essex  County  Probate  Files,  Docket  14,093. 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED. 

BY  GEORGE  FRANCIS  DOW. 


IF  THE  question  were  asked,  "What  was  the  first  American  coin ; 
the  first  coin  minted  in  America  ?"  the  chances  are  the  reply  would 
be — "the  pine  tree  shilling."  But  as  a  matter  of  fact  the  first 
coin  minted  on  this  continent  was  struck  in  Mexico  more  than 
one  hundred  years  before  the  first  "pine  tree"  money  of  1652  was 
issued.  The  "pine  tree"  money,  however,  although  not  the  first  coin- 
age actually  produced  in  the  New  World  was  the  first  money  coined 
in  the  territory  now  comprising  the  United  States.  In  1535,  the 
Spaniards  established  a  mint  in  Mexico  city  and  silver  and  copper 
coins  were  struck  bearing  the  familiar  pillars  of  the  Spanish-Mexican 
coins  and  the  names  of  Carolus  and  Joanna,  the  Spanish  king  and 
queen.  This  was  the  first  coinage  in  America.  The  denominations 
issued  were  1/4  real  in  copper  and  1/2,  1,  2  and  4  reals  in  silver,  the 
real  approximating  in  value  the  English  sixpence.  Although  none 
of  these  coins  bore  dates,  they  all  probably  were  made  soon  after  the 
mint  was  established  and  from  that  time  until  1556  when  Philip  II 
ascended  the  Spanish  throne. 

The  earliest  settlers  of  New  England  had  no  coinage  for  circula- 
tion and  none  was  provided  for  them  by  the  English  crown  and  even 
the  right  to  coin  money  for  themselves  was  treated  as  a  treasonable 
usurpation  of  the  royal  prerogative.  For  these  reasons  our  ancesters 
were  driven  to  the  necessity  of  using  the  produce  of  the  soil  and  the 
live  stock  from  their  pastures  as  their  media  of  exchange.  Peltry 
also  was  one  of  the  first  and  for  many  years  the  principal  article  of 
currency.  It  was  offered  in  great  abundance  by  the  Indians  who 
were  very  ready  to  barter  it  for  beads,  knives,  hatchets  and  blankets 
and  especially  for  powder,  shot,  guns  and  "strong  water." 

In  most  of  the  Colonies  the  wampum  of  the  Indians  also  was  exten- 
sively used  and  frequently  was  paid  into  the  treasury  in  payment  of 
taxes.  So,  also,  were  cattle  and  corn  as  is  shown  by  numerous  enact- 
ments of  the  Massachusetts  Great  and  General  Court.  Musket  balls 
were  also  current  and  were  made  legal  tender  by  order  of  the  Court 
which  decreed  "that  musket  bullets  of  a  full  bore  shall  pass  current  for 
a  farthing  a  piece  provided  that  no  man  be  compelled  to  take  more 
than  12  pence  at  a  time  of  them."     In  Virginia,  tobacco  was  used  for 

(121) 


122  THE  COINS  OUR   FATHERS   USED. 

currency  and  "from  100  to  150  pounds  of  it  bought  many  a  man  a 
good  wife." 

The  Indian  wampum  was  perhaps  the  most  convenient  currency 
available.  It  is  described  by  Roger  Williams  who,  perhaps,  had  a 
better  knowledge  of  it  than  most  of  the  early  colonists.  He  says  : — 
"It  is  of  two  kinds  which  the  Indians  make  of  the  stem  or  the  stock 
of  the  periwinkle  after  all  the  shell  is  broken  off.  [The  periwinkle 
is  a  mollusc,  more  common  south  of  Cape  Cod  than  along  the  shores 
of  Massachusetts  Bay.]  Of  this  kind,  six  of  the  small  beads,  which 
they  make  with  holes  to  string  upon  their  bracelet,  are  current  with 
the  English  for  a  penny.  The  other  kind  is  black,  inclined  to  a  blue 
shade,  which  is  made  of  the  shell  of  a  fish  [that  is,  a  mollusc]  which 
some  of  the  English  call  henspoquahoc  [now  known  as  the  hen-clam 
or  quahaug]  and  of  this  description  three  are  equal  to  an  English 
penny.     One  fathom  of  this  stringed  money  is  worth  five  shillings." 

To  show  the  intimate  relation  of  this  Indian  money  to  our  early 
history,  it  appears  that  even  Harvard  College  accepted  it  for  tuition 
fees  and  otherwise ;  for  in  1641  a  trading  company,  chartered  to 
deal  with  the  Indians  in  furs  and  wampum,  was  required  to  relieve 
the  College  of  its  super-abundance  of  this  odd  currency  and  redeem 
it,  "provided  they  were  not  obliged  to  take  more  than  £25  of  it  at 
any  one  time."  The  thrifty  Dutch  at  New  Amsterdam,  however, 
took  advantage  of  the  scarcity  of  legitimate  currency  and  the  corre- 
sponding demand  for  wampum  and  established  factories  where  they 
made  it  in  such  vast  quantities  that  the  market  was  broken  and  the 
value  of  wampum  rapidly  decreased. 

The  great  source  of  metallic  currency  for  New  England  in  those 
earliest  days  was  the  West  India  islands  and  much  silver  brought 
from  thence  was  later  coined  into  "pine  tree"  shillings  and  sixpences. 
Governor  Winthrop  in  1639  tells  of  "a  small  bark  from  the  West 
Indies,  one  capt.  Jackson  in  her,  with  a  commission  from  the  West- 
minister company  to  take  prizes  from  the  Spanish.  He  brought 
much  wealth  in  money,  plate,  indigo  and  sugar."  But  metallic  money 
became  so  scarce  that  by  1640  there  was  but  little  in  the  colonies 
and  the  greatest  difficulty  existed  in  making  payments  for  goods  or 
the  wages  of  servants.  In  one  instance,  in  Rowley,  "the  master  was 
forced  to  sell  a  pair  of  his  oxen  to  pay  his  servant's  wages  and  so 
told  the  servant  he  could  keep  him  no  longer,  not  knowing  how  to 
pay  him  the  next  year.  The  servant  answered  him  that  In:  would 
[continue  to]  serve  him  for  more  of  his  cattle.  But  how  shall  I  do, 
said  the  master,  when  all  my  cattle  are  gone?  The  servant  replied, 
why,  then  you  shall  serve  me  and  you  shall  then  have  your  cattle 
again." 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  123 

Various  attempts  were  made  to  establish  values  to  certain  coins, 
more  or  less  ficticious,  but  this  failed  to  relieve  the  situation  and  finally 
to  obtain  a  more  stable  basis  the  Massachusetts  General  Court  adopted 
a  currency  of  its  own  and  the  "pine  tree"  money  appeared,  shortly 
preceded  by  the  more  rude  and  more  easily  counterfeited  New  Eng- 
land shillings  and  six  pences,  which  bore  on  one  side  the  letters  "N. 
E."  within  a  small  circle  arid  on  the  other  side  the  denomination  in 
Roman  numerals.  These  primitive  coins  were  made  between  1650 
and  1652  and  were  superseded  by  the  true  oak  and  pine  tree  pieces 
after  that  date.  The  simple  irregular  form  of  the  "N.  E."  coins  ren- 
dered them  an  easy  prey  to  the  counterfeiter  and  the  clipper  and  the 
design  of  the  newer  coins,  covering  the  whole  surface  of  the  planchet, 
was  a  protection  against  both  dangers.  The  "N.  E."  shilling  is  now 
a  rare  coin  and  likewise  the  sixpence,  while  the  three  pence  is  rarer 
still,  but  two  or  three  genuine  examples  being  known  to  exist.  The 
"N.  E."  shilling  in  the  sale  of  the  coins  of  the  late  Matthew  A.  Stick- 
ney  of  Salem  brought  an  even  $50.  and  one  in  the  Mills  sale  in  New 
York  a  few  years  before  sold  for  $62.50.  What  a  genuine  "N.  E." 
three  pence  would  sell  for  is  problematical,  but  a  much  larger  sum, 
of  course. 

There  are  two  distinct  forms  of  the  so-called  "pine  tree"  currency, 
the  one  bearing  on  the  obverse  a  representation  of  a  tree  resembling 
an  oak,  or  as  some  say,  a  willow ;  the  other  with  the  true  pine-tree. 
It  is  thought  that  the  ruder  pieces  bearing  the  oak  tree  design  were 
the  first  coined  and  that  the  more  perfect  pine  tree  money  was  issued 
later.  At  any  rate  both  "oak"  and  "pine  tree"  pieces,  shillings,  six 
pences  and  three  pences,  all  bear  the  same  date,  1652.  But  this 
money  was  issued  continuously  until  1686  without  a  change  of  the 
date,  it  is  said,  to  avoid  interference  from  the  English  government, 
the  coining  of  money  by  the  colonists  being  a  distinct  violation  of 
the  royal  prerogative.  By  the  retention  of  the  original  date  it  was 
thought  to  deceive  the  authorities,  at  home  into  the  belief  that  the 
violation  of  the  laws  ceased  as  it  began,  in  1652.  In  1652,  however, 
a  two-penny  piece  was  minted  bearing  the  oak  tree  design  and  hence 
it  is  natural  to  suppose  that  the  pieces  bearing  the  true  pine  tree 
design  were  the  last  coined  and  not  issued  until  after  1662. 

One  of  the  traditions  connected  with  the  pine  or  oak  tree  money 
is  the  story  that  Sir  Thomas  Temple,  who  was  a  real  friend  of  the 
colonists,  in  1662,  showed  some  of  the  pieces  to  the  king  at  the  coun- 
cil table  in  London,  when  king  Charles  demanded  upon  what  author- 
ity these  colonists  had  coined  money  any  way  and  sought  to  have 
orders  sent  to  prohibit  any  further  issues.  "But,"  responded  Sir 
Thomas,  "this  tree  is  the  oak  which  saved  your  majesty's  life  and 
which  your  loyal  subjects  would  perpetuate."     Sir  Thomas  of  course 


124  THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED. 

referred  to  the  episode  of  Boscobel  in  which  Charles  II  escaped  his 
enemies  by  hiding  in  the  branches  of  an  oak.  This  it  is  said  so 
pleased  the  king  that  he  dropped  the  subject  and  the  coining  of  "pine 
tree"  money  proceded  merrily  as  before  for  twenty-five  years  longer. 

The  master  of  the  mint  was  John  Hull  who  lived  in  Boston  where 
Pemberton  square  now  opens  from  Tremont  street  and  where  later 
was  the  famous  garden  and  residence  of  Gardner  Green,  Esq.  The 
mint  house,  sixteen  feet  square  and  ten  feet  high,  was  built  on  land 
belonging  to  Hull  in  the  rear  of  his  house.  Robert  Sanderson,  a 
friend  of  Hull,  was  associated  with  him  in  making  the  "pine  tree" 
money.  It  is  not  known  how  they  divided  their  profit,  but  they  re- 
ceived one  shilling  six  pence  for  each  twenty  shillings  coined,  and  as 
it  is  estimated  that  "pine  tree"  money  to  the  amount  of  five  millions 
of  dollars  in  value  was  made  during  the  thirty-four  years  it  was  issued, 
the  commissions  received  must  have  been  very  large  and  the  state- 
ment that  the  dowry,  said  to  have  been  £30,000,  given  to  Hull's 
daughter  at  her  marriage,  appears  reasonable.  That  the  girl,  plump 
as  she  is  reported  to  have  been,  actually  weighed  down  the  dowry 
in  shillings  is,  of  course,  absurd  as  that  amount  in  silver  would  weigh 
over  6,000  pounds  rating  a  silver  £  as  weighing  4  oz.  at  that  time. 

Hawthorne's  description  of  what  is  said  to  have  taken  place  on  that 
occasion  is  too  vivid  a  picture  to  be  overlooked.  He  relates  that 
Captain  John  Hull  was  appointed  to  manufacture  the  pine  tree  money 
and  had  about  one  shilling  out  of  every  twenty  to  pay  him  for  the 
trouble  of  making  them.  Hereupon  all  the  old  silver  in  the  colony 
was  handed  over  to  Captain  John  Hull.  The  battered  silver  cans  and 
tankards,  I  suppose,  and  silver  buckles  and  broken  spoons  and  silver 
hilts  of  swords  that  figured  at  court, — all  such  articles  were  doubt- 
less thrown  into  the  melting  pot  together. 

The  magistrates  soon  began  to  suspect  that  the  mint-master  would 
have  the  best  of  the  bargain  and  they  offered  him  a  large  sum  of 
money  if  he  would  but  give  up  that  twentieth  shilling  which  he  was 
continually  dropping  into  his  own  pocket.  But  Captain  Hull  de- 
clared himself  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  shilling.  And  well  he 
might  be,  for  so  dilligently  did  he  labor  that  in  a  few  years,  his 
pockets,  his  money  bags,  and  his  strong  box  were  overflowing  with 
pine  tree  shillings. 

Then  Samuel  Sewall,  afterwards  the  famous  Judge  Sewall  of  the 
days  of  witchcraft  fame,  came  a  courting  to  Hull's  daughter.  Betsy 
was  a  fine  and  hearty  damsel  and  having  always  fed  heartily  on 
pumpkin  pies,  doughnuts,  Indian,  puddings  and  other  Puritan  dainties, 
she  was  as  round  and  plump  as  a  pudding  herself. 

"Yes,  you  may  take  her"  said  Captain  Hull,  to  her  lover,  young 
Sewall,  "and   you'll  find  her  a  heavy   burden  enough".     Hawthorne 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  125 

describes  the  wedding  and  the  costumes  of  the  contracting  parties 
and  their  friends,  and  Captain  Hull  he  "supposes",  rather  improbably 
one  would  think,  however,  "dressed  in  a  plum  colored  coat  all  the 
buttons  of  which  were  made  of  pine  tree  shillings.  The  buttons  of 
his  waistcoat  were 'of  sixpences  and  the  knees  of  his  smallclothes 
were  buttoned  with  silver  three-pences.  .  .  .  and  as  to  Betsy  her- 
self, she  was  blushing  with  all  her  might,  and  looked  like  a  full-blown 
peony  or  a  great  red  apple". 

When  the  marriage  ceremony  was  over,  at  a  whispered  word  from 
Captain  Hull,  a  large  pair  of  scales  was  lugged  in  to  the  room,  such 
as  wholesale  merchants  use  for  weighing  bulky  commodities,  and 
quite  a  bulky  commodity  was  now  to  be  weighed  in  them.  "Daughter 
Betsy"  said  the  mint-master,  "get  into  one  side  of  these  scales."  Miss 
Betsy, — or  Mrs.  Sewall  as  we  must  now  call  her,  did  as  she  was  bid 
and  again  the  servants  tugged,  this  time  bringing  in  a  huge  iron- 
bound  oaken  chest  which  being  opened  proved  to  be  full  to  the  brim 
with  bright  pine  tree  shillings  fresh  from  the  mint.  At  Captain 
Hull's  command  the  servants  heaped  double  handfuls  of  shillings 
into  one  side  of  the  scales,  while  Betsy  remained  in  the  other.  Jingle, 
jingle,  went  the  shillings  as  handful  after  handful  was  thrown  in,  till, 
plump  and  ponderous  as  she  was,  they  fairly  weighed  the  young  lady 
from  the  floor.  "There,  son  Sewall"  cried  the  honest  mint-master 
resuming  his  seat,  "take  these  shillings  for  my  daughter's  portion. 
Use  her  kindly  and  thank  Heaven  for  her.  It's  not  every  wife  that's 
worth  her  weight  in  silver." 

However  interesting  the  story  may  be  of  the  plump  girl  sitting  in 
one  pan  of  the  scales  as  shillings  were  thrown  into  the  other,  as  de- 
picted in  Hawthorne's  version  of  the  affair,  we  must  be  permitted  to 
consider  that  time  has  cast  a  halo  around  the  mint-master's  daughter 
and  increased  both  her  avoirdupois  and  her  dowry. 

Massachusetts  was  the  only  New  England  colony  to  coin  silver  but 
close  upon  the  date  of  the  issue  of  the  first  "pine  tree"  money  came  the 
Maryland  shilling,  sixpence,  groat  and  penny,  the  last  in  copper.  These 
bear  no  date  but  appeared  about  1659,  the  dies  having  been  made 
in  England.  All  of  these  coins  had  on  the  obverse  the  head  of  Lord 
Baltimore  and  on  the  reverse  the  arms  of  the  Palatinate.  These 
issues  of  the  Maryland  coins  are  now  rare  but  do  not  possess  the 
interest  which  the  ruder  home-made  "pine  tree"  money  holds  among 
coin  collectors.  At  the  Stickney  sale,  a  Baltimore  shilling  in  fine 
order  sold  for  $32.  and  a  sixpence  as  good,  for  $25.,  while  another 
sixpence,  slightly  rubbed  and  having  a  small  hole  near  the  edge 
brought  only  $3.75.  This  is  an  excellent  example  of  the  greatly  in- 
creased value  of  coins  when  the  condition  is  perfect  and  shows  how 


126  THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED. 

useless  it  is  to  base  ideas  of  the  value  of  coins  which  we  may  possess 
by  reading  the  newspaper  accounts  of  the  prices  at  which  rare  coins 
are  sold  without  first  knowing  the  condition  of  the  coin  itself. 

Among  the  coins  made  for  circulation  in  the  colonies  are  those  of 
the  series  known  as  the  "Rosa  Americana"  pieces.  These  are  also 
called  the  "Wood  money"  not  that  they  were  made  of  wood  but  by 
Wood,  William  Wood  having  received  a  patent  from  the  British  gov- 
ernment in  1722  for  coining  money  for  America  and  also  for  Ireland. 
This  coinage  is  in  two  penny  pieces,  pennies  and  half-pence,  and  all 
are  well  executed.  They  bear  the  head  of  George  I  on  one  side  and 
on  the  other  a  rose  crowned  and  the  legend  "Rosa  Americana",  hence 
the  name  by  which  this  series  is  always  known.  There  are  many 
varieties  of  these  coins  and  some  of  the  rarer  sorts  bring  good  prices 
in  the  market,  but  fifty  cents  to  three  or  four  dollars  is  the  usual  value ; 
the  rarest,  however,  the  half-penny  of  1724,  sold  for  $310.  in  the 
Stickney  sale.  These  coins  circulated  but  little  in  the  colonies,  but, 
singularly  enough,  the  Irish  half-pence  made  by  Wood  are  more 
common  in  this  country  than  the  "Americana"  coins  and  may  be  picked 
up  for  a  few  cents. 

After  the  capture  of  Louisburg,  the  parliament  of  Great  Britain 
in  1748  voted  to  reimburse  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  for  the  ex- 
penses incurred  on  account  of  the  Cape  Breton  expedition.  The 
amount  estimated  to  have  been  expended  by  the  Province  was 
£183,649  sterling  and  a  large  quantity  of  silver  and  copper  coins, 
forming  the  largest  shipment  of  specie  to  this  country  during  the 
colonial  period,  was  forwarded  to  Boston  to  meet  the  indebtedness. 
The  silver  amounted  to  650,000  ounces  and  filled  217  chests,  while 
the  copper  half-pence  and  farthings  weighed  ten  tons  and  came  in  100 
casks.  The  anticipated  coming  of  so  much  specie  caused  the  pro- 
vincial authorities  much  anxiety  for  its  safety  and  a  brick  arch  was 
built  in  the  cellar  of  the  house  of  the  treasurer  in  Boston  to  receive  it. 
On  Monday,  Sept.  18,  1749  the  ship  "Mermaid",  Captain  Montague, 
arrived  in  Boston  harbor  with  the  precious  cargo  and  it  was  safely 
landed  and,  later,  distributed  to  its  various  destinations  to  meet  local 
demands.  The  bulk  of  this  hard  cash  was  appropriated  to  redeem 
the  Province  bills  of  credit.  Considerable  of  it,  however,  was  trans- 
ported through  the  country  to  Portsmouth  and  it  is  an  interesting 
fact  that  among  the  more  common  copper  pieces  found  in  collections 
of  coins  hereabouts  are  specimens  of  the  half-pence  bearing  the  head 
of  George  II,  and  dated  1749,  even  now  retaining  their  mini  biight- 
ness,  the  relics  of  this  wonderful  importation  of  British  specie.  Most 
of  the  silver,  however,  was  in  Spanish  coinage  and  one  may  be  criti- 
cised for  using  the  term  British  as  applied  to  the  entire  amount. 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  127 

Numerous  coins  were  made  in  the  colonies,  either  intended  for 
regular  circulation  or  as  tokens  privately  issued,  among  which  are 
the  Granby  coppers — rude  half-pennies — made  in  1737  by  one  John 
Higley,  the  blacksmith,  at  Granby,"  Conn.  They  were  made  of  soft 
copper  which  was  dug  at  Granby  and  are  never  found  in  very  good 
condition.  One  in  a  better  state  of  preservation  than  usual  recently 
sold  for  $180. 

There  are  coins  of  French  origin  attributed  to  Louisiana ;  others 
made  to  circulate  in  Virginia;  odd  native  products  from  New  Hamp- 
shire, it  is  said,  and  a  strange  copper  half-penny  with  a  two-faced 
Janus  head  on  the  obverse  and  the  legend  "State  of  Massa,"  with 
the  "goddess  liberty"  on  the  other  side  and  bearing  the  date  1776. 
This  last  piece  is  unique,  the  only  known  specimen  having  been  in 
the  Stickney  collection,  bringing  $1060.  at  that  sale.  At  the  same 
time  a  New  Hampshire  piece  with  a  pine  tree  design  brought  $212. 

Just  after  the  Revolutionary  war,  as  each  state  conducted  its  own 
independent  government,  coins  were  issued  in  Massachusetts,  Ver- 
mont, Connecticut,  New  York  and  New  Jersey.  Nearly  all  of  these 
issues  were  of  the  cent  denomination  and  of  the  size  of  the  familiar 
old-time  copper  cents  of  the  early  19th  century.  Massachusetts, 
however,  issued  a  half-cent  which,  with  the  cents,  were  coined  in  the 
years  1787  and  1788.  The  Massachusetts  coins  were  far  betterin  ex- 
ecution than  those  of  the  other  states  and  are  very  creditable  coins. 
Both  dates  of  the  cent  are  quite  common  and  only  when  in  the  finest 
condition  do  they  bring  more  than  one  dollar;  those  in  poor  preser- 
vation not  being  worth  more  than  ten  cents.  The  half-cents  are 
somewhat  scarcer  but  even  these  are  not  rare.  Bearing  an  eagle  on 
one  side,  these  coins  have  on  the  other  the  standing  Indian  found  on 
our  Massachusetts  coat  of  arms  and  state  seal  and  hence  is  derived 
the  common  name  of  these  coins, — "Indian  cents." 

The  first  Indian  cents  were  coined  from  dies  cut  by  Joseph  Calen- 
der, but  he  charged  so  much  for  his  work  that  Jacob  Perkins  of  New- 
buryport  was  employed  to  make  them  thereafter.  The  mint-master 
was  Joshua  Witherle  who  became  popularly  known  as  the  "cent 
maker."  The  mint  was  established  at  Boston  Neck  at  a  point  near 
what  is  now  the  corner  of  Washington  and  East  Waltham  streets. 
The  State  authorities  were  very  particular  about  the  quality  of  the 
cents  and  it  became  necessary  to  obtain  the  metal  from  condemned 
mortars  and  cannon,  together  with  odd  lots  of  brass  and  copper  at 
Bridgewater.  This  material  was  carted  to  Newton,  and,  later,  to 
Dedham  and  there  rolled  into  sheets  of  the  proper  alloy  and  thickness. 
These  sheets  were  then  taken  to  the  Boston  mint  and  stamped,  alto- 
gether an  expensive  matter,  the  first  issues   appearing  in  1787.     In 


128  THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED. 

1788  the  State's  supply  of  copper  having  become  exhausted  the  mint 
was  closed  and  never  reopened  for  it  was  found  on  making  up  the 
accounts,  notwithstanding  the  scrupulous  honesty  of  mint-master 
Witherle,  that  the  venture  had  cost  the  State  of  Massachusetts  very 
nearly  two  cents  for  every  cent  coined,  quite  a  different  story  from 
the  operations  of  the  U.  S.  government  today,  when,  owing  to  the 
immense  number  of  cents  coined  and  the  small  value  of  the  materials 
in  each  "copper,"  Uncle  Sam  makes  millions  of  dollars  through  the 
operations  of  his  mints  at  Philadelphia,  San  Francisco  and  elsewhere. 
In  all  probabilty  more  than  a  half  million  of  the  Massachusetts  cents 
and  half-cents  were  made  and,  although  this  is  not  a  large  number 
in  comparison  with  the  many  millions  of  cents  now  made  each  year 
by  our  government,  still  it  is  sufficiently  large  to  account  for  the 
comparative  frequency  with  which  these  coins  are  now  found  in  the 
region  where  they  originally  appeared. 

Vermont,  although  not  admitted  to  the  union  until  1791,  was  one 
of  the  first  of  the  States  to  coin  money  after  the  Revolutionary  war 
had  ended.  And  the  cents  issued  in  1785  and  1786  were  among  the 
most  pretentious  of  these  state  issues  with  their  designs  of  the  sun 
rising  over  the  Green  Mountains,  the  plow  in  the  foreground  and  the 
latin  motto  indicating  the  State  to  be  the  "fourteenth  star,"  although 
the  number  of  stars  surrounding  the  eye  with  its  radiating  lines  on 
the  reverse  of  the  coins  is  but  thirteen.  It  was  Reuben  Harmon  who 
received  the  grant  in  1785  giving  him  the  exclusive  right  to  coin 
copper  money  for  two  years.  He  extablished  his  mint  at  Rupert. 
These  early  Vermont  cents  are  not  uncommon,  the  poor  ones  bring- 
ing but  fifty  cents  while  those  in  the  very  finest  condition  have  been 
known  to  sell  for  fourteen  dollars.  Another  illustration  that  condi- 
tion and  rarity  make  the  value  of  a  coin,  not  its  age.  But  Vermont 
cents  of  later  dates  are  far  inferior  in  workmanship  and  design  to 
the  Green  Mountain  coppers ;  one  of  the  oddest  and  rudest  being  the 
so-called  "baby  head"  of  1786;  others,  there  are,  bearing  heads  re- 
sembling these  of  George  II  and  George  III  on  the  British  half- 
pennies from  1730-1780.     Vermont  cents  were  issued  until  1788. 

Connecticut  cents  cover  the  same  period  as  those  of  Vermont  and 
are  of  the  same  character  as  the  issues  bearing  the  George  II  and 
George  III  heads.  They  were  coined  from  1785  to  1788.  In  fact,  it 
is  probable  that  some  of  the  dies  were  used  interchangeably  and  many 
counterfeits  were  made  bearing  the  legends  used  on  the  cents  of 
both  States.  None  of  these  cents  are  very  rare  and  ordinal  y  ones 
may  be  found  in  almost  any  lot  of  old  coppeib  and  are  worth  but  a 
few  cents. 

New  Jersey  cents  are  far  more  attractive  in  appearance  than  those 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  129 

of  Connecticut.  They  bear  a  horse's  head  and  a  plow  on  one  side 
with  the  legend  "Nova  Caesarea"  for  New  Jersey  and  on  the  other 
side  a  shield  with  bars  surrounded  by  the  words  "E  Pluribus  Unum." 
These  cents  were  made  from  1786  to  1788  and  are  of  very  even  qual- 
ity. There  were  two  mint-houses  in  post-revolutionary  days  in  New 
Jersey,  one  at  Morristown,  the  other  at  Elizab'ethtown.  It  is  probable 
that  the  same  engraver  cut  the  dies  for  the  New  Jersey  coins  as  well 
as  those  for  the  early  Vermont  cents  for  the  plows  in  each  case  close- 
ly resemble  each  other. 

The  state  of  New  York  claims  pre-eminence  in  the  rarity  of  coins 
issued  in  its  name  at  this  period.  The  ordinary  cents  called  New 
York  coppers  and  bearing  the  legend  "Nova  Eborac"  are  not  rare 
and  even  these  are  not  thought  to  have  been  made  in  the  State  but 
sent  over  from  England  where  they  were  made  by  private  parties  for 
profit.  However,  there  are  some  of  the  very  rarest  of  "Americana" 
in  coins  among  those  attributed  to  that  State.  There  are  Clinton 
coppers,  "Nova  Constellatio"  coppers,  Excelsior  coppers  and  others. 
One  of  these  coppers  bears  the  legend  "Neo  Eboracus"  on  the  obverse 
and  an  Indian  standing  and  on  the  other  side  an  eagle.  An  example 
of  this  coin  sold  in  the  Stickney  collection  for  $850.  It  was  in  very 
fine  condition  and  but  four  of  these  coins,  pattern  cents  they  may 
have  been,  are  known  to  exist.  Another  of  these  rarities,  bearing  on 
one  side  the  arms  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  on  the  other  a  spread 
eagle,  brought  $210,  and  a  third,  similar  in  design  but  with  the  eagle 
of  larger  size,  brought  $460.  All  of  these  coins  are  of  the  highest 
degree  of  rarity  and  all  were  in  fine  condition.  The  dies  from  which 
they  were  struck  were  skillfully  made.  But  the  highest  tide  of  coin 
values  has  been  reached  in  the  case  of  the  so-called  "Brasher  doub- 
loon," a  gold  coin  about  the  size  of  a  ten  dollar  gold-piece  of  our 
day.  It  bears  on  the  face  a  design  showing  the  sun  "in  splendor, 
rising  from  behind  a  range  of  mountains,  beneath  which  is,  'Brasher'". 
The  legend  is  "Nova  Eborac  Columbia  Excelsior."  The  reverse  bears 
the  spread  eagle  and  legend  "Unum  E  Pluribus."  The  date  is  1787 
and  the  letters  "E.  B."  for  Ephraim  Brasher  who  made  these  doub- 
loons, are  punched  on  one  of  the  wings  of  the  eagle.  An  extended 
reference  is  made  to  this  coin  for  in  1907  it  was  sold  for  the  highest 
figure  ever  realized  for  a  coin  in  America  up  to  that  time.  But  four 
others  are  known  besides  this  fine  specimen  which  belonged  to 
Matthew  A.  Stickney  of  Salem  and  which  was  sold  with  his  collec- 
tion. In  the  great  coin  sale  conducted  by  Henry  Chapman  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  purchased  the  entire  Stickney  collection,  this  coin  brought 
the  extraordinary  sum  of  $6,200.  at  public  auction.  However  re- 
markable this  sale  may  be  only  two  years  later  it  was  far  exceded  by 
two  $50.  gold  pattern  pieces. 


130  THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED. 

In  response  to  a  demand  for  large  denominations  of  gold  coins 
from  California,  where  the  local  conditions  keep  specie  alway  in  con- 
stant circulation,  an  attempt  was  made  in  Congress  to  establish  a  $25., 
$50.,  and  $100.  gold  coinage,  but  the  bill  never  became  a  law.  The 
mint  authorities,  however,  proceded  to  make  patterns  for  the  $50. 
pieces,  but  not  until  1877,  several  years  after  the  law  was  proposed. 
Usually  these  pattern  pieces  are  struck  in  low  priced  metals,  but  in 
this  case  additional  pieces  were  struck  in  gold.  There  were  two 
patterns  made,  differing  slightly  from  each  other.  The  gold  patterns 
issued  came  into  possession  of  John  W.  Haseltine  and  Stephen  K. 
Nagy,  coin  dealers  of  Philadelphia,  who  sold  them  in  1909  to  William 
H.  Woodin  of  New  York  for  $10,000.  each.  These  are  thought  by 
many  to  be  the  most  beautiful  coins  ever  issued  by  our  government. 
But  they  should  not  be  confounded  with  the  varieties  of  fifty-dollar 
gold  pieces  issued  by' private  parties  in  California  in  the  "fifties,"  be- 
fore the  government  prohibited  their  issue.  These  private  coins 
bring  high  prices,  but  nothing  in  comparison  with  the  two  of  mint 
origin  which  now  it  is  said  hold  the  record  for  high  prices  far  in  ad- 
vance of  any  coin  ever  before  sold. 

Washington's  fame  naturally  brought  out  many  designs  for  coins 
with  his  head  upon  them  either  full-faced  or,  more  frequently,  in 
profile.  Many  of  these  were  intended  as  patterns  for  the  first  regular 
coinage  of  U.  S.  cents.  Others  were  issued  as  medals  or  tokens  and 
some,  even,  were  made  in  England  to  be  circulated  in  America. 
Washington  coins  and  medals  continued  tq  be  made  until  after  his 
death,  in  1799;  at  that  time,  in  fact,  a  large  number  appeared.  So 
there  are  really  two  groups  of  Washington  coins;  those  issued  before 
the  United  States  government  began  a  regular  coinage,  many  of 
which  may  be  considered  as  pattern  coins,  and  those  which  were  is- 
sued entirely  as  tributes  to  Washington,  the  man  and  hero.  Among 
the  last  were  the  "mortuary  medals"  many  of  which  are  quite  rare, 
designed  and  made  by  Jacob  Perkins  of  Newburyport,  he  who  had 
previously  made  the  dies  for  the  Massachusetts  Indian  coins  of  1787 
and  1788.  Perkins  also  was  favorably  looked  upon  as  the  director 
of  the  United  States  mint  when  first  established  but  another  obtained 
the  position.  These  medals  were  struck  in  tin,  silver,  copper  and 
gold  and  bore  on  the  obverse  the  head  of  Washington  and  on  the 
reverse  a  funereal  urn.  The  legend,  "he  is  in  glory  and  the  world  in 
tears"  has  given  the  popular  name  by  which  these  Perkins  medals 
are  generally  known.  They  sell  at  prices  from  $3.  to  $25.  each,  ac- 
cording to  the  metal  in  which  they  are  struck  and  their  individual 
rarity.  Some  of  the  rarer  Washington  pattern  cents  sell  at  figures 
up  to  $85.  and  the  set  of  Washington  Indian  peace  medals  brought 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  131 

$120.  in  the  Stickney  sale.  Washington's  head  never  appeared  on 
any  regularly  issued  coin  of  the  United  States.  It  was  his  expressed 
wish  that  it  should  not  and  that  wish  has  been  followed.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  Washington's  views  on  the  subject  should  not  have 
prevailed  regarding  the  "Lincoln  cents,"  a  belittling  use  of  Lincoln's 

!  profile  and  a  danger  which  may  lead  to  the  issue  of  government  coins 

with  the  heads  of  undeserving  men  and  even  politicians  as  has  been 
done  in  many  of  the  Latin  republics  at  the  south.  Medals  serve  as 
the  proper  method  of  perpetuating  the  names  and  deeds  of  men  in 
this  country.  Our  regularly  issued  coins  should  only  express  ideals 
in  their  designs. 

The  so-called  "First  United  States  Cent"  was  issued  in  1787  and  is 
said  to  have  been  designed  by  Benjamin  Franklin,  at  least  it  bears  a 
legend  attributed  to  him, — "mind  your  business."  This  familiar 
coin  bears  on  one  side  the  sun  shining  on  a  sun-dial  and  the  legend 
"Fugio"  and  on  the  other  side  thirteen  links  in  an  endless  chain. 
These  coins  are  not  scarce  and  even  in  the  finest  condition  in  which 
they  are  ever  found  are  worth  hardly  over  a  couple  of  dollars,  while 
those  in  ordinary  condition  may  be  bought  for  ten  cents.  A  coin 
struck  in  silver  and  sometimes  in  white  metal  bearing  the  same  de- 
sign had  been  issued  in  1776.  This  dollar  coin  is  not  of  great  rarity, 
but  sells  for  about  $5.  to  $10.  according  to  condition.  The  design 
was  a  favorite  one  during  and  just  after  the  Revolution  for  it  appeared 
on  the  continental  paper  money  as  well  as  in  copper  and  silver.  The 
"Fugio"  or  "Franklin  link  cents"  were  coined  in  New  York  and  in 
New  Haven,  the  dies  for  them  having  been  made  by  Abel  Buel  of  the 
last  named  city. 

During  the  interval  following  the  Revolution  and  until  the  adoption 
of  the  Constitution,  great  confusion  existed  in  the  currency  of  the 
States.  There  was  a  debased  copper  currency,  mostly  privately 
emitted  coins,  foisted  upon  the  people  by  foreign  speculators,  and  a 
worse  condition  in  the  confused  and  depreciated  paper  currency, 
based  on  the  pound  sterling,  which,  having  been  issued  in  different 
amounts  in  different  colonies,  varied  in  actual  value  in  each,  so  that 
a  pound  in  Massachusetts  was  not  a  pound  in  Connecticut  and  pos- 
sessed still  another  value  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

As  early  as  1781,  Robert  Morris,  the  financier  of  the  post-Revolu- 
tionary Confederacy,  was  requested  to  lay  before  Congress  his  views 
on  coinage  and  currency.  He  did  so  in  a  report  which  was  an  attempt 
to  harmonize  all  the  conflicting  elements  with  which  the  States  had 
to  deal  financially  and  his  plan  had  for  its  unit  of  value  1/1400  of  a 
Spanish  dollar.  He  proposed,  however,  a  decimal  system  for  our 
currency.     Nothing  more  was  done  until  1784  when  Thomas  Jeffer- 


132  THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED. 

son  brought  forward  a  better  scheme.  He  said  that  the  Morris  unit 
was  too  small  and  proposed  the  Spanish  dollar  itself  as  the  unit.  He 
said  it  was  of  good. size,  easily  divisible  and  already  familiar  through 
our  West  India  trade  and  a  coin  which  would  be  brought  to  the 
country  in  increasing  quantities  as  our  commerce  became  extended. 
This  was  a  wise  suggestion  and  for  half  a  century  after  these  coins 
flowed  in  and  out  the  country  by  the  millions  by  way  of  the  China 
and  India  trade  as  our  merchants  sent  their  brave  little  ships  on  dis- 
tant voyages  with  their  kegs  of  Spanish  dollars  stacked  in  their  holds, 
or  secreted  in  false  bottomed  chests. 

■  The  word  dollar  is  the  English  form  of  the  German  word  thaler, 
and  the  origin  of  the  thaler  is  as  follows: — In  the  year  1519,  Count 
Schlick  of  Bohemia  issued  silver  coins  weighing  one  ounce  each  and 
worth  113  cents.  They  were  coined  at  Joachimsthal,  that  is,  James's 
Valley  or  dale,  hence  they  became  known  as  "Joachimsthalers,"  soon 
shortened  to  thalers.  Through  trade  with  the  Dutch  these  coins 
came  into  England  in  the  sixteenth  century  and  are  referred  to 
sometimes  as  "dalers." 

But  the  dollar  came  to  the  American  continent  not  through  the 
Dutch  or  English  but  through  the  Spanish.  This  was  due  to  the  ex- 
tent of  the  Spanish  Empire  in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries 
and  also  to  the  great  quantities  of  silver  which  Spain  drew  from  her 
mines  in  Mexico  and  South  America.  The  Spanish  coin  was  strictly 
speaking  a  peso,  better  known  as  a  piece  of  eight,  because  it  was 
equal  to  eight  reals  (royals).  As  it  was  of  the  same  value,  the  name 
dollar  was  given  to  the  piece  of  eight  about  the. year  1690. 

The  most  famous  Spanish  dollar  was  known  as  the  pillar  dollar, 
because  it  had  on  one  side  two  pillars,  representing  the  pillars  of 
Hercules,  the  classical  name  for  the  Straits  of  Gibralter,  and  this 
Spanish  dollar  was  common  in  America  at  the  time  of  the  War  of 
Independence. 

Jefferson's  report  was  adopted  in  1785  when  another  rest  followed. 
In  1792,  however,  Alexander  Hamilton,  then  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
a  man  of  action,  recommended  immediate  procedure  on  Jefferson's 
plan.  Hamilton's  recommendation  was  adopted  by  Congress  with 
recommendations  for  a  coinage  of  eagles,  half-  and  quarter-eagles  in 
gold;  dollars,  halves,  quarters,  dimes  and  half-dimes  in  silver;  and 
cents  and  half-cents  in  copper. 

President  Washington  immediately  proceeded  to  lay  out  plans  in 
conformity  with  the  action  of  Congress.  The  mint  was  established 
and  David  Rittenhouse  was  appointed  director,  the  mint  building 
was  erected  on  7th  street,  Philadelphia,  between  Market  and  Arch 
streets,  and  the  presses  were  imported  from  abroad  during  the  year 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  133 

1792.  On  Sept.  21st  of  that  year,  the  first  copper  was  purchased,  a 
very  small  amount,  six  pounds.  The  first  actual  coinage  was  a  limit- 
ed number  of  half  dimes,  spelled  at  that  time  "disme,"  meaning  a 
tenth,  and  bearing  the  so-called  Martha  Washington  head.  These 
were  said  to  have  been  made  from  silver  plate  furnished  by  Wash- 
ington himself.  These  half-dimes  are  generally  considered  pattern 
pieces  although  they  certainly  should  have  a  place  in  the  regular 
coinage  as  they  did  circulate  to  some  extent  and  were  spoken  of  at 
the  time  as  having  been  issued  on  account  of  the  great  scarcity  of 
small  change.  A  few  other  coins  were  issued  as  patterns  in  1792, 
but  the  continuous  coinage  of  the  nation  actually  began  the  following 
year,  with  the  issue  of  the  cents  and  half-cents  bearing  the  head  of 
Liberty  with  "flowing  hair,"  the  liberty  cap  on  the  pole  over  the  god- 
dess's shoulder  being  added  the  last  part  of  the  year. 

The  United  States  mint,  originally  established  in  Philadelphia  in 
1792,  has  ever  remained  there  as  the  chief  mint,  notwithstanding 
the  change  of  the  national  capitol  to  Washington,  the  headquarters 
of  all  other  government  departments.  The  original  mint  building 
of  1792  remained  standing  until  comparatively  recent  years,  having 
been  at  the  last  used  as  a  carpenter's  shop. 

The  various  complicated  processes  which  the  crude  metal  or  bul- 
lion passes  through  before  coming  into  our  hands  as  the  bright  "coins 
of  the  realm,"  are  little  imagined  by  those  who  use  the  coins  every 
day.  A  bag  of  gold  or  silver  bullion  is  brought  by  a  depositor  or 
sent  by  express  to  the  mint  to  be  coined  into  money.  It  is  weighed 
in  his  presence  or  a  certificate  returned  by  messenger.  Then  an  as- 
say is  made  to  ascertain  its  fineness.  Next  comes  the  melting,  refin- 
ing and  casting  into  ingots  which  are  then  rolled  in  powerful  machines 
and  annealed  and  by  other  powerful  machines  drawn  out  to  the  prop- 
er thickness.  Next  the  "planchets"  or  blanks  are  cut  out  by  a  stamp- 
ing machine,  weighed  and  if  too  heavy  they  are  filed  off  and  if  too 
light  returned  to  the  melting  pot.  Another  machine  "mills"  the 
edges  to  prevent  the  clipping  of  the  coins  by  unscrupulous  persons 
and,  finally,  the  great  and  beautifully  adjusted  coining  press  with  its 
irresistible  jaws  seizes  the  blanks  and  stamps  them  with  the  steel 
dies  cut  by  skilled  engravers  and  turns  out  the  gold  and  the  shining 
dollars,  halves,  quarters,  dimes  and  the  "minor  coins,"  bright  and 
clean. 

But  not  a  grain  of  the  precious  metal  must  be  lost.  The  floors  of 
the  rooms  where  all  of  these  processes  have  been  going  on  are  made 
with  fine  grating  and  these  are  often  removed  and  the  dust  swept 
up  and  removed  and  the  gold  and  silver  in  it  carefully  extracted  and 
returned  to  the  pot.  The  dust  thus  saved  amounts  on  the  average 
to  $23,000  annually. 


134  THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED. 

In  1825,  Samuel  Morse,  director  of  the  mint,  issued  a  list  of  rules 
and  regulations  for  the  mint  employees  and  much  solemn  advice 
went  out  with  them. 

Work  began  at:  5  A.  M.  and  continued  until  4  P.  M.  The  former 
allowance  for  "drink  money"  in  practice  since  1792,  was  discontinued 
and  three  dollars  was  added  to  the  regular  wages  "for  the  three 
summer  months"  and  liquor  was  prohibited  in  the  mint.  Visitors 
were  to  be  admitted  "on  all  working  days  except  Saturdays  and 
rainy  clays/'  The  only  holidays  were  Christmas  and  4th  of  July. 
The  watchman  must  use  "a  dark  lanthorn  but  not  an  open  candle" 
and  he  must  keep,  in  a  proper  arm  chest,  securely  locked,  a  musket 
and  bayonett,  two  pistols  and  a  sword."  Once  each  month  these 
"arms  must  be  discharged  and  charged  again."  The  director  says 
that  "the  delicate,  trust  reposed  in  all  employees  presupposes  that 
their  character  is  free  from  all  suspicion,"  but  he  "feels  it  his  duty, 
nevertheless,  to  warn  them  of  the  danger  of  violating  so  high  a 
trust."  The  law  of  the  United  States  then  in  full,  enacted  in  1792, 
provided  that  for  "embezzlement  of  any  coins  struck  at  the  mint  or 
of  any  of  the  metals  sent  to  the  mint  for  coinage  .  .  .  the  person  so 
doing  shall  be  guilty  of  felony  and  shall  suffer  death." 

On  the  backs  of  many  of  the  United  States  gold  and  silver  coins 
issued  since  1838,  will  be  found  small  capital  letters, — "O,"  "D,"  "S," 
etc.  They  are  found  just  beneath  the  spread  eagle  on  the  coins  of 
larger  denominations  and  inside  of  the  legend,  while  on  the  smaller 
denominations  the  letter  is  at  the  base  of  the  wreath  near  the  edge 
of  the  coin.  These  little  capital  letters  have  often  excited  the  interest 
of  the  curious  and  the  question  is  frequently  asked, — "What  do  they 
signify?" 

In  1838,  three  branch  mints  were  established,  one  at  New  Orleans, 
another  at  Dahlonega,  Georgia,  and  a  third  at  Charlotte,  North  Caro- 
lina. These  mints  continued  in  operation  until  the  opening  of  the 
Civil  War  in  1861,  when  their  work  was,  of  course,  discontinued.  In 
1879,  the  New  Orleans  mint  was  reopened  for  coining  all  denomina- 
tions of  gold  and  silver,  but  the  other  southern  mints,  however,  were 
not  reopened.  They  had  been  established  to  coin  the  gold,  then 
largely  coming  from  North  Carolina  and  Georgia,  into  eagles  and 
half-eagles,  but  silver  was  not  minted  in  them  as  it  was  at  New 
Orleans. 

Following  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  a  mint  was  opened 
at  San  Francisco  in  which  gold  of  all  denominations  was  coined  and 
later,  silver  as  well.  The  fifth  branch  mint  was  established  at  Car- 
son City,  Nevada,  in  1870,  to  coin  gold  and  the  silver  then  coming  in 
vast  quantities  from  neighboring  mines.     Among  the  silver  coins 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  135 

minted  there  was  the  short  lived  twenty  cent  piece.  Those  who  are 
interested  to  look  may  readily  find  among  their  silver  change  coins 
from  the  branch  mints  excepting  those  of  Dahlonega  and  Charlotte, 
where  only  gold  was  coined.  If  an  "S"  is  found  under  the  eagle  or 
beneath  the  wreath  on  the  back  of  the  coin,  the  coin  was  minted  at 
San  Francisco,  if  "C.C."  is  there,  it  came  from  the  Carson  City  mint, 
while  New  Orleans  is  distinguished  by  an  "O."  The  gold  of  Charlotte 
and  Dahlonega  had  "O"  and  "D"  respectively  for  their  mint  marks. 

While  the  mint  was  established  in  1792  and  the  so-called  Martha 
Washington  half-dimes  were  coined  for  circulation  and  several  pat- 
tern or  experiment  pieces  were  made  that  year,  still,  the  first  coins 
from  the  mint  which  actually  circulated  were  the  cents  and  half-cents 
of  the  next  year,  and  it  was  not  until  1797  that  the  full  quota  of  coins 
authorized  when  the  mint  was  established  was  regularly  issued. 

Quite  naturally,  of  the  gold  coins  comparatively  little  is  known  by 
the  general  public  for  few  persons  are  collectors  of  coins  in  the  most 
precious  metal.  But  there  are  enough  collectors  of  American  gold 
coins,  however,  to  keep  the  rarer  issues  in  demand  and  cause  them 
to  sell  for  exceedingly  high  prices  at  the  coin  auctions,  probably  the 
highest  figure  reached  being  $2,000.  paid  for  the  half-eagle  of  1815 
of  which  the  mint  records  show  but  635  were  coined.  Eagles  and 
half-eagles  have  been  coined  since  1795,  the  latter  with  greater  reg- 
ularity but  few  years  being  missed  up  to  the  present  time.  The  eagles, 
however,  were  not  issued  from  1804  until  1838.  Quarter-eagles, 
which  were  first  coined  in  1796,  skip  many  years  until  1829,  after 
which  date  they  appeared  with  greater  regularity.  Double-eagles 
have  been  issued  since  1850.  Three  dollar  pieces  began  to  appear  in 
1854  and  the  gold  dollars  in  1849.  These  are  the  only  regular 
United  States  issues  of  gold,  the  fifty  dollar  gold  coins  and  the  four 
dollar  pieces  or  "stella,"  are  either  patterns  or  private  coins  from 
California. 

The  "stella"  seems  to  have  excited  the  most  interest  of  any  pattern 
or  regularly  issued  coin  of  the  United  States,  although  by  no  means 
bringing  the  highest  price  when  sold.  There  are  several  varieties  of 
the  coin  which  were  struck  in  1879  and  1880.  The  issue  of  these 
experimental  coins  is  said  to  have  been  suggested  by  the  Austrian 
Minister  at  Washington.  They  were  intended  to  serve  as  an  inter- 
national coin  of  the  value  of  the  Austrian  8  florin  piece,  approximate- 
ly $3.88.  Five  varieties  of  the  "stella"  are  recorded,  and  they  were 
struck  in  aluminum,  copper,  silver  and  in  one  instance  in  gold.  Some 
varieties  are  much  rarer  than  others,  the  commoner  varieties  former- 
ly selling  for  $8.  to  $10.,  but  a  steady  gain  in  the  values  has  been 
made  of  late.     Recently  one  sold  for  $85.  and  $500.  is  now  considered 


136  THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED. 

to  be  the  value  of  the  rarest  varieties  in  gold,  although  none  have 
been  actually  sold  at  that  figure  in  any  coin  sale. 

The  issue  of  private  coins  is  now  prohibited  by  law.  The  present 
gold  issues  of  the  United  States  are  in  great  contrast  in  appearance 
with  all  previous  coins  of  the  government.  The  eagles  and  double- 
eagles  appearing  more  like  medals  than  coins  for  circulation.  Based 
upon  designs  of  the  late  Augustus  St.  Gaudens,  those  first  minted 
proved  impracticable  on  account  of  their  high  relief,  which  was  cor- 
rected in  later  issues.  No  doubt  these  coins  have  much  artistic  merit 
although  they  have  been  much  criticised,  but  for  the  various  purposes 
of  money  and  for  ready  identification  the  old  type  of  American  coin- 
age is  admittedly  superior. 

The  first  United  States  silver  coin  to  circulate  generally,  if  we  ex- 
clude the  little  half-dime  of  1792,  was  the  silver  dollar  of  1794,  now 
a  rare  coin  and  selling  in  fine  condition  for  nearly  $200.  The  half- 
dollar  of  the  same,  year,  like  the  dollar  bearing  on  its  face  the  fine 
head  of  Liberty  with  the  flowing  hair,  is  not  so  rare  as  the  dollar, 
but  has  often  sold  for  $40.  Other  silver  dollars  from  1795  to  the 
recent  dates,  excepting  the  rarest,  sell  for  $2.  to  $12.  The  "Liberty 
seated"  dollar  of  1838  has  sold  for  $200 ;  that  of  1839  for  $55  ;  the 
1852  for  $32.50  and  the  1858  for  $33.  The  most  surprising  thing  in 
the  way  of  coin  prices  is  the  low  figures  for  which  our  so-called  trade 
dollars  are  sold.  These  were  made  from  1873  onwards  to  be  used  in 
place  of  the  Spanish  or  Mexican  dollars  in  the  Orient  where  those 
coins  had  long  been  used  as  the  basis  of  trade.  Our  trade  dollars 
actually  contain  more  silver  than  the  regular  United  States  silver 
dollar,  but  as  they  are  not  legal  tender  here  they  are  at  a  discount 
and  in  coin  sales  many  of  the  dates  of  the  trade  dollar  will  bring  but 
65  cents  to  90  cents,  save  the  last  two  dates,  of  which  only  pattern 
pieces  were  issued  and  which  now  sell  at  extravagant  prices.  This 
attempt  to  work  off  our  superfluous  silver  on  the  East,  was  at  once 
imitated  by  Great  Britain  and  France  with  trade  dollars  of  their  own 
and  the  issue  of  American  trade  dollars  was  discontinued  in  1878. 

Of  all  American  coins,  however,  and  perhaps  of  all  coins,  the  most 
famous  and  the  one  most  written  about,  is  the  United  States  silver 
dollar  of  1804,  often  called  "the  King  of  United  States  coins."  But 
with  all  the  publicity  given  it,  only  six  of  these  coins  are  known  ; 
one  in  the  mint  collection  at  Philadelphia,  one  in  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society  at -Boston,  one  in  the  City  Museum,  Omaha,  two  in 
private  hands  and  the  6th,  for  74  years  owned  by  the  late  Matthew 
A.  Stickney  of  Salem,  and  his  heirs,  Mr.  Stickney  having  obtained  it 
as  a  duplicate  from  the  United  States  mint  in  1843.  It  never  was 
out  of  his  possession  or   that    of   his  daughters  until  sold  by  Henry 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  137 

Chapman  in  1907  for  $3,600 — the  highest  price  ever  paid  for  an 
American  silver  coin. 

The  so-called  "King  of  the  United  States  coins"  has  caused  more 
discussion  and  been  the  subject  of  more  popular  interest  then  any 
coin  in  America.  It  has  been  the  object  of  much  newspaper  comment 
and  innumerable  absurd  stories.  These  coins  have  been  found,  ac- 
cording to  distant  newspapers,  in  stockings  of  the  old-time  hoarders, 
dug  up  in  the  most  improbable  places  and  in  the  possession  of  per- 
sons as  family  heirlooms  and  not  to  be  parted  with  at  any  price. 
The  facts  in  the  case  are  that  although  the  mint  records  give  19,570 
silver  dollars  coined  in  .1804,  the  records  are  made  up  in  such  a  way 
that  the  actual  issues  bearing  different  dates  do  not  always  corres- 
pond with  the  annual  reports.  Old  dies  were  often  used  until  worn 
out  and  past  the  date  they  bore.  Therefore  it  is  not  always  possible 
to  be  sure  of  the  actual  coinage  of  a  certain  date  by  depending  on 
the  mint  records. 

Numismatists  differ  regarding  the  1804  dollar  and  some  assert  that 
the  entire  lot  now  in  collectors'  cabinets  "are  modern  frauds,  charit- 
ably called  restrikes."  Thirteen  coins  of  that  date  are  known  in 
collections  of  which  six  are  considered  as  genuine  so  far  as  there  is 
genuineness  to  any.  It  is  undoubtedly  a  fact  that  none  were  coined 
in  the  year  1804.  A  die  was  made  but  not  used.  The  stories  that 
there  was  an  issue  of  a  large  number  may  be  set  aside  as  false.  The 
fairy  tale  that  a  ship  load  of  1804  dollars  was  lost  in  the  China  sea 
is  absurd,  as  well  as  the  story  that  the  entire  output  was  sent  to  pay 
off  the  navy  at  Tripoli  and  was  lost  with  some  vessel,  or  that  they 
actually  were  used  in  this  way  and  dispersed  all  over  Europe. 

No  single  specimen  of  the  1804  dollar  has  a  more  direct  history 
than  the  example  sold  with  the  Stickney  collection.  That  one  had 
been  in  Mr.  Stickney's  possession  and  his  daughters'  hands  from  the 
day  it  left  the  United  States  mint  in  1843  until  sold  in  1907.  It  was 
the  custom  in  the  early  days  of  the  mint  to  keep  old  dies  and  little 
thought  was  given  as  to  what  became  of  them.  Some  were  sold  for 
junk  and  no  doubt  many  coins  have  been  struck  from  old  dies  sold 
or  taken  from  the  mint.  Lately  this  has  all  been  changed  and  now 
laws  strictly  enforced  require  all  dies  to  be  broken  up  and  utterly 
destroyed  at  the  end  of  each  year.  Either  at  the  mint  or  elsewhere 
it  "is  probable  that  the  face  die  made  for  1804  was  taken  with  a  suit- 
able reverse  die  of  some  other  year  and  a  few  coins  made  from  this 
combination.  Two  of  these  were  in  the  mint  in  1843  when  Mr. 
Stickney  effected  an  exchange  for  one  of  them  with  the  mint  author- 
ities. Therefore,  the  Stickney  1804  dollar  came  directly  from  the 
original  source  and  that  was  the  mint  itself. 


138  THE  COINS  OUR   FATHERS   USED. 

Comparison  shows  that  there  are  several  others  which  have  the 
appearance  of  similar  genuineness  and  these  are  well  known  and  re- 
corded in  the  numismatic  books.  There  are  also  many  specimens 
pretending  to  be  1804  dollars  which  have  been  made  in  various  ways 
to  deceive  collectors.  Some  are  electrotypes  made,  either  from  a 
vouched  specimen  or  from  a  fake  one.  These  should  not  easily 
deceive  any  expert.  The  most  difficult  ones  to  detect  are  those 
raised  from  a  dollar  of  1801  by  adding  a  cross  to  the  1  making 
it  a  4.  Of  course  there  are  differences  in  the  1801  dollar  by 
which  the  expert  collector  may  know  the  fraud,  but  the  collector 
not  an  expert  may  thus  be  deceived.  The  dollar  called  genuine  j 
has  sold  at  various  prices  and  not  by  any  means  at  a  steady 
increase.  One  sold  in  1903  brought  $2,000.  The  Stickney  dollar 
sold  for  $3,600,  and  is  undoubtedly  the  most  valuable  specimen 
historically,  outside  the  United  States  mint. 

The  smaller  silver  of  the  United  States  is  of  comparatively  little 
interest.  Half-dollars  of  1796  have  sold  for  $63.  and  the  rare  1797, 
in  fine  condition,  for  $110.  Of  the  quarters,  the  first  issue  of  1796 
has  sold  for  $35— that  of  1806  for  $23.  Many  of  the  halves  and 
quarters  are  not  worth  more  than  their  face  value  even  when  in  a 
fine  state  of  preservation. 

The  twenty-cent  piece,  first  issued  in  1875,  was  soon  abandoned — 
a  needless  denomination — those  of  1877  and  1878  bring  from  $2  to 
$6— but  they  must  be  in  perfect  condition.  The  dimes  are  pretty 
coins,  especially  those  of  the  early  dates  and  they  are  often  found 
finely  preserved.  From  $5  to  $12  are  the  highest  prices  paid  for  the 
rarest.  Of  the  half-dimes,  that  of  1792  previously  mentioned  has 
sold  for  $23,  and  the  rarest,  probably  that  of  1796,  has  brought  $44. 
A  different  variety  of  the  same  year  sold  at  the  same  sale  brought 
but  $15.50.  Half-dimes  of  1864  are  scarce,  however,  and  sell  for 
nearly  $2.  but  they  must  be  of  the  finest  quality.  The  little  three- 
cent  pieces  coined  from  1851  to  1873  are  the  smallest  coins  ever  is- 
sued by  our  government.  A  proof  of  1856  sold  once  for  $5,  the  high- 
est price  paid  for  a  three-cent  piece.  Other  dates  are  common  except 
1865  and  1873,  which  sell  as  proofs  for  about  $1.25  each.  Of  course 
all  the  silver  coins  in  poor  condition  or  rubbed  bring  very  low  prices. 

The  American  copper  cents  have  interested  more  persons  and  are 
more  sought  for  by  collectors  of  the  series  of  dates  than  any  other 
coins.  Among  collectors  are  young  and  old,  high  and  low,  grave 
and  gay.  Some  are  satisfied  to  show  one  specimen  of  each  date  ob- 
tainable,  no  matter  what  its  condition  may  be  and  will  tuck  in  some 
other  copper  coin  to  fill  the  places  of  the  varieties,  1793,  1799  and 
1814,  and  even  some  collectors   will  add  a  British  or  Canadian  half- 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  139 

penny  of  1815  to  their  series,  although  no  United  States  cents  were 
coined  that  year.  Others  there  are  whose  purses  are  longer  who  will 
have  the  finest  coins  and  there  are  some  who  are  persistent  in  this 
hobby  of  discerning  microscopic  variations  in  the  dies.  The  early 
dies  were  made  individually  and  so  each  one  varied  from  another, 
being  used  until  it  was  broken  when  a  new  one  was  substituted. 
But  later  the  dies  have  been  made  in  exact  duplicates  from  a  "mother" 
die  and  the  soft  steel  in  which  the  dies  are  made  is  hardened  for  the 
coining  press.  So  these  variations  no  longer  exist  to  any  extent 
among  the  millions  of  cents  minted  today. 

Treatises  have  been  written  upon  and  fine  plates  issued  of  the  var- 
ieties of  the  cents  of  1793,  1794  and  other  dates.  An  interesting  in- 
stance of  the  highly  specialized  collecting  may  be  seen  in  the  sale  at 
public  auction  of  the  Gilbert  collection,  in  New  York,  on  Oct.  12, 
1910,  when  a  group  of  67  cents  of  the  year  1794  representing  over 
fifty  distinct  varieties,  were  sold  separately.  The  lot  included  some 
very  beautiful  specimens  and  was  the  largest  collection  of  varieties 
of  1794  cents  ever  brought  together.  One  cent  was  sold  for  $101, 
the  highest  price  of  any ;  another  for  $75,  and  a  third  for  $72.  Eleven 
sold  for  over  $50  each.  The  entire  series  brought  more  than  $1500.00, 
making  the  average  price  $23,  including  the  poorer  as  well  as  the  fine 
specimens.  In  this  connection  it  may  be  said  that  the  prices  of  fine 
specimens  of  all  rare  and  even  somewhat  scarce  American  coins  have 
been  greatly  enhanced  with  recent  years. 

From  1793  to  the  present  time  cents  have  been  coined  in  great 
numbers  with  the  single  omission  of  the  year  1815.  The  rarest  in 
order  of  their  scarcity  are  :—1799,  1804,  1793,  1809,  1813,  1796 
(liberty-cap),  1823,  1811  and  so  on.  Of  course  prices  vary  greatly 
according  to  the  condition  of  the  cent,  for  condition,  not  date  invar- 
iably governs  the  comparative  value  of  a  coin. 

In  their  very  finest  state,  United  States  cents  of  1793  with  the  chain- 
designed  reverse,  have  sold  for  $41;  with  the  wreath,  for  $75;  1794 
absolutely  perfect,  $52.50  to  $75;  1796  liberty-cap  design,  $45;. 1796 
fillet  head  for  $40;  1797  for  $20.  The  two  last  named  were  in  the 
Stickney  collection  and  came  from  a  bag  of  bright  cents  in  Salem 
originally  paid  to  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Goodhue,  Member  of  Congress, 
for  the  old  Essex  district  at  that  time.  This  bag  of  mint-bright  cents  of 
1796  and  1797  was  in  the  possession  of  a  Salem  man  in  the  50's  and  60's 
and  from  it  went  forth  practically  all  that  are  now  in  the  cabinets  of 
the  great  coin  collectors  in  this  country  and  also  many  abroad.  The 
owner,  while  retaining  his  hoard  was,  on  the  whole,  rather  free  with 
the  cents,  individually  giving  them  singly  or  in  pairs  by  date  to  col- 
lectors   who   visited   him   to   see,  and  if  possible  to  secure    them. 


140  THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS   USED. 

What  finally  became  of  the  last  of  this  lot  is  not  known,  but  as  the 
bag  and  its  contents  comes  to  the  memory  of  one  Salem  man  now 
living,  who,  as  a  boy,  was  given  a  pair  of  these  cents,  there  were 
perhaps  fifty  left  in  1860-1862,  all  of  a  beautiful  bronze  color  with 
some  of  the  original  mint  brightness  lingering  around  the  edges  of 
the  coins.  The  owner  probably  realized  very  little  in  the  way  of  ex- 
change for  his  precious  hoard  and  if  he  ever  sold  any  it  must  have 
been  when  only  the  last  of  the  lot  were  left.  How  many  cents  there 
were  originally  no  one  knows, — but  could  all  have  been  sold  at  the 
prices  which  the  pair  realized  at  the  Stickney  sale,  no  doubt  the 
original  bag  full  would  have  reached  the  sum  of  $3,000. 

The  cent  of  1799  is  scarcer  than  any  other  and  it  is  never  found  in 
fine  condition.  The  copper  of  which  it  was  made  is  soft  and  the 
striking  is  weak.  Tradition  says  that  the  year's  output  was  nearly 
all  taken  by  a  Salem  merchant  who  bored  holes  through  the  cents 
and  traded  them  with  the  natives  in  Africa  for  ivory  and  other 
precious  things.  Be  that  true  or  false  (which  no  doubt  it  is),  it  makes 
one  like  Omar  (slightly)  altered  "wonder  often  what  the  (merchants) 
bought,  one  half  so  precious  as  the  (cents)  they  sold." 

The  condition  of  an  1804  cent  in  the  Stickney  sale  brought  the 
price  up  to  an  even  $100;  an  1805,  to  $46,  and  an  1808,  to  $20.  An 
1817  with  15  stars,  the  only  cent  ever  issued  with  that  number  and 
made  "to  follow  the  flag"  which  at  that  time  had  15  stars  to  repre- 
sent the  full  number  of  states,  sold  for  $9.25.  Cents  of  later  dates, 
often  worth  but  a  few  cents  in  ordinary  condition  and  no  more  than 
their  face  value  if  very  poor,  if  very  fine  will  bring  extraordinary 
prices.  Records  show  actual  sales  of  cents  of  1821  at  $77.50;  of 
1823  at  $17 ;  of  1827  at  $22  ;  of  1831  at  $10.50 ;  1834  at  $17.50  ;  of 
1838  at  $12.50 ;  of  1840  at  $20  and  1849  at  $13.50,  when  of  the  en- 
tire lot  only  1821  and  1823  are  in  the  least  scarce  and  none  would  | 
be  worth  over  10  cents  in  ordinary  circulated  condition.  The  last 
large  copper  cent  was  issued  in  1857  and  sells  for  50  cents  to  $1.50 
according  to  its  condition. 

The  attractive  copper  half-cents  were  not  coined  with  the  same 
regularity  as  the  cents.  Of  the  first  date  of  issue,  1793,  fine  ones  of 
that  year  are  worth  $30;  of  1795,  $26;  of  1796,  $12.50;  but  1804, 
the  same  date  as  the  cent  which  sold  for  the  highest  price  at  the 
Stickney  sale,  is  very  common  indeed,  bright  ones  being  worth  only 
a  few  cents.  Half-cents  become  scarce  as  the  years  advanc ...  The 
half-cent  of  1831  has  sold  for  $40  to  $48 ;  of  1836  for  $50;  of  1840 
for  $42.50 ;  of  1842  for  $125  and  1845  for  $115.  None  of  these  dates 
is  found  in  ordinary  condition.  They  practically  never  were  cir- 
culated. The  half-cents  of  1857,  the  last  date  a  half-cent  was  ever 
made,  sell  for  from  50  cents  to  $3. 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  141 

The  same  year,  1857,  that  the  "copper"  ceased  to  be  issued,  the  so- 
called  nickel  cents  appeared,  preceded  in  1856  by  a  pattern  with  the 
same  "flying  eagle,"  which  had  a  limited  circulation.  These  were 
changed  to  the  Indian  head  design  in  1859.  In  1864  the  bronze  In- 
dian head  cent  took  the  place  of  the  nickel  to  give  way  in  1909  to 
the  Lincoln  head,  our  present  cent.  None  of  the  recent  cents  are 
rare— excepting  the  1856  pattern  which  in  very  fine  proof  condition 
has  sold  for  $12.  From  a  few  cents  to  a  dollar  for  a  rare  variety  of  the 
1859,  expresses  their  value.  Some  varieties  of  the  early  Lincoln  cents 
are  considered  scarcer  than  others. 

The  bronze  two-cent  pieces  which  appeared  in  1864  and  continued 
until  1873  are  common  enough.  A  proof  of  1864  has  sold  as  high 
as  $1.10. 

Nickel  three-cent  pieces  were  coined  from  1865  to  1889.  A  complete 
set  in  proof  condition  sells  for  30  cents  each. 

The  five-cent  nickel  now  having  taken  unto  itself  the  metallic  name 
and  everywhere  known  as  a  "nickel,"  although  only  one  quarter  of 
it  is  made  of  that  metal,  was  first  issued  in  1865  and  has  proved  a 
universally  welcome  coin.  Most  dates  are  common  and  only  a  few 
very  early  ones,  like  1866,  bring  any  price  in  the  coin  market. 

Every  collector  of  coins  who  remembers  the  days  of  the  old  copper 
cents  will  call  to  mind  the  "brummies"  or  "Brummagems"  which  were 
met  with  in  every  direction.  These  coins,  of  course,  got  their  generic 
name  from  the  city  of  Birmingham,  England,  noted  as  the  place  of 
coinage  of  most  of  these  tokens  and  also  where  many  regular  issues 
of  coins  have  been  made  for  different  countries  as  well  as  many  fine 
private  store  cards  and  the  like.  The  various  tokens  and  old  British 
half-pence,  more  or  less  worn,  even  to  the  utter  obliteration  of  legend 
and  design,  formerly  passed  for  a  cent  among  those  who  were  liber- 
al in  their  construction  of  the  laws  of  the  land,  but  gradually  these 
"brummagems"  came  into  disfavor  and  with  the  change  from  the 
copper  to  the  smaller  nickel  and  bronze  cents  they  soon  disappeared. 
But  collectors  were  keen  enough  to  perceive  that  among  these  "brum- 
mies" could  occasionally  be  found  a  rare  State  cent  or  still  rarer  co- 
lonial piece  and  many  active  numismatists  were  ready  to  buy  the 
brummies  of  local  merchants  at  half  face  value  for  the  chance  of 
realizing  a  profit  out  of  some  one  coin  among  a  hundred  and  oftener 
than  not  the  chances  were  in  their  favor.  Among  these  "brum- 
magems" were  a  vast  number  of  counterfeits  of  the  State  cents;  in 
fact  it  is  quite  uncertain  in  many  cases  whether  some  of  these  coins 
accepted  by  collectors  are  really  the  State  issues  of  Connecticut  and 
Vermont  or  are  counterfeits  made  at  the  same  time.  Another  class 
of  coins  which  crept   into  circulation   to  a  limited   extent  with  the 


142  THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED. 

"brummies"  were  the  so-called  "blacksmith  coppers"  made  in  Canada 
to  supply  small  change  which  at  the  time  was  very  scarce.  These 
coppers  were  thin,  poorly  made  and  rude  in  every  way.  They  were 
either  without  date  or  dated  back  of  the  time  of  issue  to  avoid  any 
danger  of  conflict  with  government  laws  against  them.  While  ap- 
pearing to  be  much  older  they  were  really  issued  from  1820-1840. 
They  had  all  sorts  of  inscriptions  upon  them  devised  to  avoid  the 
counterfeiting  acts  and  yet  make  the  coin  appear  as  much  as  possible 
like  the  half-pennies  of  England  so  that  they  might  better  pass  among 
the  ignorant  shopkeepers  and  the  country  people. 

"Hard  times  tokens,"  a  term  usually  applied  to  the  issues  of  polit- 
ical and  advertising  cents  in  the  period  of  Jackson-Van  Buren-Webster 
campaigns,  might  with  perfect  propriety  be  applied  to  any  coins  used 
as  a  substitute  for  the  regular  issues  of  any  government  at  any  time. 
Under  the  name  of  "obsidional"  coins,  or  "siege  pieces"  which  the 
word  implies,  numerous  coins  in  base  materials  and  even  leather, 
have  been  issued  in  times  long  past  in  many  countries.  In  fact,  much 
of  our  own  colonial  money  might  with  propriety  be  classed  under 
this  head.  But  the  most  numerous  of  the  coins  which  belong  to  the 
class  of  the  so-called  "hard  times  tokens"  in  America,  are  the  English 
copper  half-pennies — there  were  occasional  pennies  and  farthings — 
which  appeared  at  the  close  of  the  18th  century  and  continued  to 
appear  for  a  short  time  in  the  19th.  These  were  supplemented  by  a 
great  number  of  Canadian  coins  of  similar  character,  many  of  which 
were,  no  doubt,  made  in  England,  and  which  were  issued  until  with- 
in comparaitvely  recent  times.  Several  treatises  and  even  books 
have  been  written  on  the  subject  of  coins  of  these  classes. 

At  the  time  these  coins  first  made  their  appearance,  the  state  of 
our  coining  was  much  confused.  Paper  money,  called  "Shin  plas- 
ters," "Wild  cat"  and  "Red  dog,"  was  issued  by  irresponsible  parties 
in  many  places,  especially  in  New  York  city,  much  of  which  was 
never  redeemed.  One  of  the  first  coppers  issued  had  for  a  legend, — 
"A  substitute  for  shin-plasters"  and  "Pure  copper  preferable  to  paper" 
was  the  legend  on  a  Canadian  coin  of  sympathetic  nature. 

But  the  political  character  of  our  "hard  times  tokens"  of  1834- 
1842  is  their  chief  attraction  to  the  general  collector.  One  of  these 
political  tokens  had  for  its  design  a  balking  mule  with  "Roman  firm- 
ness" for  the  legend,  typical  of  the  determined  attitude  of  President 
Jackson  in  the  matter  of  abolishing  the  United  States  Bank,  which 
such  legends  on  other  tokens  as, — *The  Union  must  be  preserved" 
and  "The  bank  must  perish,"  corroborated.  One  token  bore  the 
Webster  Ship  of  State  progressing  finely  under  full  sail,  while  on  the 
other  side  was  the  Van  Buren  ship,  wrecked  and  dismasted    on  the 


THE  COINS  OUR  FATHERS  USED.  143 

rocks.  There  were  also  "Benton's  Mint  Drops,"  which  shop-keepers 
could  take  for  a  cent  or  as  a  pun  on  the  old  fashioned  candy.  These 
"mint  drops"  appeared  in  several  designs  and  got  their  familiarly 
known  name  "Old  Bullion"  from  Thomas  H.  Benton,  who,  although 
he  had  a  quarrel  with  Gen.  Jackson,  later  became  his  ardent  support- 
er and  an  opponent  of  the  Bank.  Benton  was  such  a  strong  demo- 
crat that  in  1856  he  supported  Buchanan  against  his  own  son-in-law, 
John  C.  Fremont. 

Then  there  were  the  tokens  of  the  same  size  and  closely  resembling 
in  design  the  United  States  cents  of  the  period,  with  the  legend, — "Not 
one  cent  for  tribute,  millions  for  defence",  so  arranged  that  the  words 
"One  Cent"  appeared  in  its  proper  place  in  the  center  of  the  wreath 
on  the  back  of  the  coin,  with  a  diminutive  "Not"  above  it.  This 
legend  is  said  to  have  originated  with  Charles  Pinckney  who  was  sent 
as  United  States  Minister  to  France  in  1796  when  our  relations  with 
that  country  were  somewhat  strained.  Pinckney  was  not  getting  on 
very  well  at  Paris  when  it  was  hinted  to  him  that  by  the  payment  of 
large  sums  of  money  to  certain  high  officials,  matters  would  move 
more  smoothly  and  the  threatened  war  with  France  might  be  averted. 
At  this  suggestion  of  the  establishment  of  a  corruption  fund,  Pinck- 
ney's  national  pride  arose  instantly  and  he  indignantly  answered  in 
the  splendid  and  lasting  epigram  which  was  revived  and  used  effect- 
ively when  we  sent  our  fleet  to  the  Mediterranean  to  punish  the 
Barbary  Corsairs,  to  whom  together  with  other  nations  we  had  been 
paying  tribute  as  the  cheapest  way  to  protect  our  merchant  marine 
in  those  waters  from  their  piratical  attacks.  On  some  of  the  "not 
one  cent"  tokens,  the  last  part  of  the  legend  is  made  to  read, — "an 
army  for  defence." 

Many  of  these  tokens  have  been  "muled",  as  it  is  termed  in  numis- 
matic circles,  that  is,  the  obverse  of  one  coin  has  been  struck  with  a 
reverse  die  intended  for  another  coin  and  which  does  not  correspond 
with  it,  or  sometimes  dies  intended  for  these  political  tokens  have 
been  used  to  strike  shop  cards  with  the  advertisements  of  business 
firms  on  the  other  side.  These  shop  cards  began  to  appear  in  this 
country  about  1789  with  the  establishment  of  the  United  States 
government  and  they  have  been  issued  by  private  parties  from  time 
to  time  until  a  deluge  of  them,  of  the  same  size  and  of  the  same 
metal  as  the  regular  bronze  cents,  appeared  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War,  in  1861,  when  small  change  was  scarce,  and  which  re- 
quired the  interference  of  the  national  government  to  check  it.  These 
coppers  were  seldom  redeemed  and  as  they  cost  but  a  fraction  of  a 
cent  to  manufacture,  they  were  a  source  of  illegitimate  profit  to 
those  vyho  put  them  out.     This  private  coinage  is  no  longer  permitted. 


JUSTIN  ALLEN,  A.  M.,  M.  D.     AN  APPRECIATION. 

FROM  THE  "BOSTON  MEDICAL  AND  SURGICAL  JOURNAL," 
DECEMBER  31,   1908. 

Justin  Allen,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  died  at  Topsfield,  Mass.,  and  was  buried 
there  Nov.  8, 1908,  from  the  Congregational  Church.  He  was  eighty- 
one  years  old.  He  graduated  A.  M.  from  Brown  University  and  M.  D. 
in  1856  from  Harvard.  Modest,  quiet,  studious,  well-read,  gentle, 
retiring,  even-tempered,  friendly  and  non-contentious,  he  enjoyed  the 
esteem  and  respect  of  his  classmates  and  clientage.  He  was  one  of 
those  medical  characters  whose  solid  worth  and  equanimity  shone  in 
his  profession.  He  was  one  of  the  most  devoted  attendants  on  med- 
ical meetings,  his  eyes  shining  with  delight  as  he  listened  attentively. 
I  can  remember  him  as  attending  the  first  meeting  of  the  Harvard 
Clinical  Conference,  Nov.  10,  1855;  and  the  M.  M.  S.  dinner  speeches 
in  June,  1908,  received  the  same  rapt  attention.  Good  listener  all 
the  time.  He  rarely  read  a  paper  himself — too  anthropophobic.  I 
think  he  carried  his  modesty  too  far.  For  instance,  at  the  late  Har- 
vard Medical  School  Building  dedication  he  allowed  himself  to  stand, 
listening  through  the  whole  exercises — a  shame  to  the  younger  men 
who  sat.  He  did  not  resent  the  shoving,  pushing  and  scrambling  of 
the  young  M.  D.'s  at  the  1907  M.  M.  S.  dinner  in  which  we  were 
riotously  pushed  about,  separated  and  distressed.  In  1908,  words 
were  spoken  to  the  police  beforehand  and  order  prevailed. 

I  think  he  was  a  good  doctor.  The  conventional  idea  is  that  a  doc- 
tor is  a  fool  who  doctors  himself,  and  yet  from  the  age  of  seventy  to 
eighty  he  had  glycosuria  and  albuminuria  and  kept  secret  all  the 
time.  If  he  may  not  have  been  a  good  doctor,  he  was  the  best  diabetic 
patient  I  ever  met,  and  he  deserves  the  credit  for  it. 

Such  as  he  honor  their  profession,  themselves  and  their  classmates. 
He  did  not  smoke,  nor  chew,  nor  swear,  nor  drink.  God  honored 
him  with  a  long  and  useful  life.  We  are  thankful  he  lived  as  long 
as  he  did.  He  will  be  missed  at  the  medical  convocations  he  so  long 
helped  to  make  a  success,  for  a  good  listener  is  as  necessary  to  suc- 
cess as  a  good  speaker.  He  was  a  virgin  and  consistent  church 
member.  Very  truly  yours, 

Ephraim  Cutter,  M.  D.,  H.  M.  S.  1856. 

West  Falmouth,  Mass.,  Dec.  19,  1908. 

(144) 


VITAL  STATISTICS  OF  TOPSFIELD,  MASS. 

FOR  THE  YEAR   1919. 


BIRTHS. 


1919 
Jan.    12.    Martha  Elizabeth  Ingalls,  dau.  of  Leslie  L.  and  Isabel  P.  (Smerage) 

Ingalls. 
Jan.    14.    John  Stewart  Duckworth,  son  of  Charles  Stewart  and  Josephine  Mary 

(Carey)  Duckworth. 
April  11.    Antonio  Marione,  son  of  Anthonie  and  Marietta  (Di  Meo)  Marione. 
April  11.    Virginia  De  Luiso,  dau.  of  John  and  Came  (Di  Giovanni)  De  Luiso. 
April  16.    John  Cotterell,  son  of  William  C.  and  Mary  (Patrick)  Cotterell. 
May  10.    Virginia  Hope  Spaulding,  dau.  of  Arthur  Arvin  and  Ethel  Hazen  (Buck) 

Spaulding. 

June     8. ,  son  of  Bertram  M.  and  Annetta  L.  (Linduth)  Roberts. 

Aug.  19.    Virginia  Ann  MacGregor,  dau.  of  Percy  Clement  and  Edna  (Nutter) 

MacGregor. 
Aug.  20.    Roy  Clifton  Ford,  son  of  Roy  Ferguson  and  Edna  Jackson  (Peabody) 

Ford. 
Sept.  12.    Elizabeth  Lenora  Maynard,  dau.  of  Charles  A.  and  Helen  G.  (Flanders) 

Maynard. 
Dec.    31.    Claire  Culliton,  dau.  of  Frank  M.  and  Mary  E.  (Sullivan)  Culliton. 


MARRIAGES. 


1919 
April  20.    Isaac  J.  McParland  (Topsfield),  son  of  Felix  and  Catherine   (Buck) 
McParland. 
Ellen  Hagan  (Boston),  dau.  of  Owen  and  Sarah   (Doherty)   Hagan. 
(Married  in  Boston.) 


(145) 


146  VITAL  STATISTICS    FOR   1919. 

April  30.    John  Arthur  MacLaughlin   (Topsfield),  son  of  John  C.  and  Florence 
M.  (Long)  MacLaughlin. 
Eva  Belle  Mortimer  (Boxford),  dau.  of  Edward  C.  and  Annie  (Farley) 
Mortimer.     (Married  in  Topsfield.) 

May  18.    Roy  Ferguson  Ford  (Topsfield),  son  of  Howard  and  Isabel  (Andrews) 
Ford. 
Edna  Jackson  Peabody  (Topsfield),  dau.  of  Porter  B.  and  Harriet  L. 
(Fish)  Peabody.     (Married  in  Boxford.) 

June     8.    Roy  Francis  Frame   (Topsfield),  son  of  Francis  C.  and  Elizabeth 
(Boardman)  Frame. 
Lena  Elvira  Merrifield,  dau.  of  John  C.  and  Ida  E.  (Kimball)  Merrifield. 
(Marriedin  Lawrence.) 

June   24.    Carl  Everett  Eaton  (Danvers),  son  of  Irving  and  Lois  (Staramberg) 
Eaton. 
Caroline  A.  Lefavour  (Topsfield),  dau.  of  Harry  A.  and  Caroline  (Hull) 
Lefavour.    (Married, in  Danvers.) 

June  29.    Samuel  Allen  (Topsfield),  son  of  Hugh  and  Mary  (Graham)  Allen. 

Mary  Quinn    (Brookline),  dau.  of  John  and  Mary  (Cochran)  Quinn. 
(Married  in  Danvers.) 

July     5.    Harold  F.  Jordan  (Topsfield),  son  of  C.  Fred  and  Anna  (Balch)  Jordan. 
Marion  Josephine  Killam  (Boxford),  dau.  of  Frank  W.  and  Elizabeth 
(Graves)  Killam.     (Married  in  Boxford.) 

July    19.    Earl  H.  Tinkham  (Mattapoisett),  son  of  Thomas  C.  and  Deborah 
(Howard)  Tinkham. 
Minnie  D.  Gamans  (Topsfield),  dau.  of  Walter  and  Lucella  (Dunn) 
Gamans.     (Married  in  Fairhaven.) 

Aug.  20.    Amedeo  Giovannacci  (Topsfield),  son  of  Pietro  and  Marie  C.  (Russi) 
Giovannacci. 
Georgie  F.  Rich  (Danvers),  dau.  of  Edgar  B.  and  Cora  (Perkins)  Rich. 
(Married  in  Georgetown.) 

Nov.  27.    William  Labonte  (Topsfield),  son  of  Henry  and  Delia  Labonte. 

Alma  J.  Jepsen  (Boston),  dau.  of  Jorgen  P.  and  Anna  H.  (Litz)  Jepsen. 
(Married  in  Boston). 

Dec    27.    James  V.  McDonald  (Topsfield),  son  of  James  V.  and  Petromella  (Mc- 
Donald) McDonald. 
Stella  M.  McKay  (Salem),  dau.  of  George  and  Sarah  (Porter)  McKay. 
(Married  in  Danvers.) 


1919 

Jan. 

15. 

Jan. 

21. 

Jan. 

26. 

Feb. 

15. 

Feb. 

23. 

Mar. 

19. 

April  10. 

April  13. 

April  30. 

May 

7. 

June  27. 

July 

22. 

Sept. 

7. 

Oct. 

11. 

Nov. 

10. 

Nov. 

12. 

Dec. 

24. 

VITAL  STATISTICS  FOR  1919.  147 

DEATHS. 


Rose  Page,  wife  of  M.  James  Ward,  and  dau.  of  Luther  and  Lydia 

(Page)  Ordway.    Aged  71  yrs.,  8  mos.,  26  dys. 
Baxter  P.  Pike,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Huldah  (Dorman)  Pike.    Aged 

73  yrs.  10  mos.,  20  dys. 
James  Albert  Blaisdell,  son  of  John  and  Rebecca  E.  (Hoyt)  Blaisdell. 

Aged  57  yrs. 
Pietro  Giovannacci,  son  of  Louis  Giovannacci    (Mother  unknown.) 

Aged  54  yrs.,  10  mos.,  16  days. 
Alfred  B.  Hills,   son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Knapp)  Hills.    Aged  84 

yrs.,  12  dys. 
Horace  Emerson  Bradstreet,  son  of  Horace  D.  and  Mabel  W.  (Warner) 

Bradstreet.    Aged  21  yrs.,  5  dys. 
Willard  A.  Dwinell,  son  of  John  and  Louisa  (Richards)  Dwinell.  Aged 

87  yrs.,  10  mos.,  9  dys. 
William  P.  Walsh,  son  of  Owen  and  Mary  (Doherty)  Walsh.    Aged  81 

yrs.  9  mos. 
Thomas  Harrison,  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Pew)  Harrison.    Aged 

46  yrs. 
Ruth  Porter  Perley,  dau.  of  Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth  (Waitt)  Perley. 

Aged  78  yrs.,  7  mos.,  9  dys. 
Robert  Gean  Welch,  son  of  Harry  G.  and  Maude  S.  (Brackett)  Welch. 

Aged  9  yrs.,  2  mos. 
Emily  D.  Tilton,  widow  of  Albert  Tilton,  dau.  of  Geo.  W.  and  Elizabeth 

(Brookings)  Manning.  .  Aged  79  yrs. 
Beatrice  M.  Kirk,  widow  of  George  Kirk  and  dau.  of  Edw.  H.  and  Julia 

(MacBeth)  Manning.    Aged  78  yrs. 
Ellen  McParland,  wife  of  Isaac  J.  McParland  and  dau.  of  Owen  and 

Sarah  (Doherty)  Hagan.    Aged  29  yrs.,  7  dys. 
Sarah  H.  Garrett,  widow  of  Wm.  H.  Garrett,  and  dau.  of  David  and 

Harriet  (Wilkins)  Lake.    Aged  77  yrs.,  3  mos.,  25  dys. 
Harriet  A.  Lamson,  widow  of  Josiah  A.  Lamson,  dau.  of  Hiram  C.  and 

Almira  L.  (Small)  Wells.    Aged  78  yrs.,  9  mos.,  29  dys. 
Margaret  MacDougall,  dau.  of  Murdock  and  Ann  (MacKenzie)  Mac- 

Dougall.    Aged  48  yrs.,  18  dys. 


148 


CHRONOLOGY  OF  EVENTS  IN  1919. 


Deaths  in  other  places — interment  in  Topsfield, 


1918 
Nov.   18. 

1919 
Feb.  6. 
Feb.  25. 
April  22. 
Aug.  28. 
Dec.     6. 


Zola  Finch,  infant,  died  in  New  York. 

Frank  Welch,  died  in  Haverhill,  Mass. 
George  A.  Gerry,  died  in  Boston,  Mass. 

Pierce,  died  in  Wenham.    Aged  — 

Nathan  P.  Oakes,  died  in  Danvers.    Aged  64  yrs.,  6  mos.,  1  dy. 
Alice  M.  Lowell,  died  in  Somerville,  Mass.    Aged  69  yrs.,  10  mos.,  3 
dys. 


Aged  75  yrs. 

Aged  29  yrs.,  5  mos.,  22  dys. 


CHRONOLOGY  OF  EVENTS  IN  1919. 


1919 
January. 
Feb.  26. 

May  31. 


Sept.  26-27. 
October. 


November. 


Widespread  epidemic  of  influenza  closing  the  schools,  etc. 
Death  of  John  J.  Farrell  at  Beau  Desert,  France,  of  pneumonia; 

the  only  soldier  from  Topsfield  to  die  while  in  the  service. 
Distinguished  Service  Cross  awarded  to  Corporal  Clarence  Walker 

Lake  of  Topsfield  for  "extraordinary  heroism"   near  Gesnes, 

France, 
Annual  Cattle  Show  and  Fair. 
Work  began  on   the  construction  of  a  single -arch  cement  bridge 

over  the  Ipswich  river,  replacing  Towne's  bridge  first  built  of 

wood  before  1809.   . 
Rev.  Harry  E.  Gardner  of  Tacoma,  Washington,  appointed  pastor 

of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


BUILDINGS  CONSTRUCTED  DURING  THE  YEAR  1919. 


Thomas  Emerson  Proctor,  the  French-Andrews  house,  Howlett  Street,  restored. 
Thomas  Emerson  Proctor,  the  Averill-Wildes-Perley  house,  Ridge  Street,  restored. 
Grange  Hall,  Main  Street,  shop  windows  placed  on  first  floor  front. 
John  S.  Lawrence,  Ipswich  Street,  large  cement  addition  to  main  barn;  cement 

silo. 
Leroy  Gleason,  Perkins  Street,  the  Perkins-Welch-Gleason  house  taken  down. 
Thomas  Emerson  Proctor,  Perkins  Street,  shoe  shop  at  the  Josiah  P.  Perkins 

farm  removed  to  the  Averill-Wildes-Perley  house  and  connected  as  an  ell. 


Q 


O     cu 


o 


THE 


HISTORICAL 
COLLECTIONS 


OF  THE 


TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


VOLUME  XXVI 


1921 


TOPSFIELD  MASS. 
PUBLISHED  BY  THE  SOCIETY 

1921 


CONTENTS 


P 

\     view  of  the  court  house,  salem  in  1790    -        -         Frontispiece 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY,    1920 IV 

ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY   FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING 

DEC.   31,    1920  -  -  .  - V 


\ 

C     ANNUAL  REPORT  OF.  THE  TREASURER  FOR  THE  YEAR   ENDING 

b 


DEC.  31,  1920        -        -        ...-.'.        -        -        .     vii 
\  j 

\  ANNUAL  REPORT  ON  THE  BUILDING  FUND  -  -  -  .  VU1 

'  1  ESSEX  COUNTY  IN  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY  COLONY  AS  DE- 

\    &. 

>.    ,  SCRIBED  BY  EARLY  TRAVELERS.      COMMUNICATED  BY 

\  george  francis  dow  (continued)     ...        -        -         1 

■  v   THE  STORY  OF  A  PEABODY  HOUSE  AND  ITS  NEIGHBORHOOD. 

\  BY  CHARLES  JOEL  PEABODY 113 

RECORDS  OF    MEETINGS    OF    THE    CITIZENS    AND    COMMITTEE 
OF  ARRANGEMENTS  FOR  THE  CELEBRATION  OF  THE  TWO 
HUNDREDTH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE 
TOWN  OF  TOPSFIELD,   1850.      COMMUNICATED  BY  LEONE 
P.   WELCH  -  -  -  -  -  -  -     ■     ..-  -  121 

NEWSPAPER  ITEMS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD,   COPIED   BY 

GEORGE  FRANCIS  DOW  -  -  -  -    '       -  -       128 

TOPSFIELD  VITAL  STATISTICS,   1920  -  ...  .  141 

CHRONOLOGY  OF  EVENTS   1920,  -  -  -  -  -  -        144 

BUILDINGS  CONSTRUCTED,   1920  -  -  -  •  144 


OFFICERS 

OF  THE 

TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 
1920 


President 

Charles  Joel  Peabody 

Vice-President 

Thomas  Emerson  Proctor 

Secretary  and  Treasurer 

George  Francis  Dow 

Curator 

Albert  M.  Dodge 

Board  of  Directors 

Charles  Joel  Peabody,  ex-officio 

Thomas  Emerson  Proctor,  ex-officio 

George  Francis  Dow,  ex-officio 

W.  Pitman  Gould 

Isaac  H.  Sawyer 

Leone  P.  Welch 

Arthur  H.  Wellman 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY 

OF    THE 

TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  DECEMBER  31,   1920. 


The  membership  of  the  Society  on  December  31,  1920  was  227. 
Nine  new  members  have  been  added,  two  have  resigned,  sixteen 
have  been  dropped  for  non-payment  of  dues  and  five  have  died,  viz  : 
Miss  H.  Rose  Towne  and  Miss  Bessie  Dole  Peabody,  both  charter 
members,  Miss  Sarah  R.  Bradstreet  who  became  a  member  in  1895, 
Miss  Abbie  A.  Smith,  and  Ezra  D.  Hines  of  Danvers  who  joined  the 
Society  in  1896.  There  are  now  twenty-four  charter  members  on 
the  list  who  joined  the  Society  on  January  4,  1895. 

Because  of  the  severe  winter  weather  and  the  coincidence  of  a 
series  of  stormy  evenings  the  annual  meeting  which  should  have 
been  held  on  January  9th  was  postponed  again  and  again  and  finally 
was  not  held  until  May  14th.  In  consequence,  but  two  meetings 
have  been  held  during  the  year,  both  of  which  were  addressed  by 
the  President,  the  first  time  on  'The  Influence  of  Modern  Methods 
of  Transportation,  upon  the  Life  and  Character  of  Topsfield"  and  the 
second  time  on  "The  Story  of  a  Peabody  House  and  its  Neighborhood." 

Volumes  I  and  II  of  Topsfield  Town  Records  have  been  published 
with  the  cooperation  of  the  Town.  Volume  I  contains  447  pages 
and  Volume  II,  436  pages.  These  volumes  include  the  town  clerk's 
records  from  1659  to  the  end  of  the  year  1778.  The  Secretary  has 
in  his  possession  a  typewritten  copy  of  the  clerk's  records  following 
these  volumes  to  the  year  1810  which  is  available  for  publication  if 
at  any  time  the  town  should  consider  it  desirable  to  continue  the 
work.  The  printing  of  these  records  among  many  other  interesting 
items  reveals  the  fact  that  the  first  meeting  house  built  on  the  Com- 
mon in  1703  was  a  square  building  with  a  hip  roof  and  a  turret  or 
cupola  in  the  center,  while  on  each  of  the  four  sides  of  the  roof  pro- 
jected a  "lucomb"  or  large  dormer  window,  sometimes  called  a 
"peaked  window."  Very  carefull  name  and  subject  indexes  have 
been  made  for  these  volumes  and  the  varied  details  of  town  affairs 
thereby  have  been  made  easy  of  reference.  The  grouping  of  related 
items  under  subject  headings  such  as:  bridges,  buildings,  common 
land,  highways,  localities  and  place  names,  meeting  house,  military 

(v) 


VI  ANNUAL   REPORT  OF  THE   SECRETARY. 

affairs,  poor,  Revolutionary  War,  taxation,  etc.,  etc.,  bring  to  light 
much  interesting  matter. 

Volume  XXV,  of  the  Historical  Collections  also  has  been  printed 
and  distributed.  Elsewhere  only  the  large  societies  and  State  organ- 
izations have  reached  Volume  XXV  in  their  Historical  Collections 
and  then  the  number  is  less  than  a  score.  The  twenty-five  volumes 
of  Collections  that  this  society  has  published  contain  a  total  of  4073 
pages.  In  addition  have  been  published  volumes  of  Town  records, 
vital  records,  etc.  etc.  It  would  seem  that  by  this  time  the  history 
and  biography  of  the  town  was  well  covered  but  such  is  far  from  the 
fact.  But  the  remaining  material  requires  much  work  and  original 
research  in  the  preparation  and  a  considerable  expenditure  of  time. 
After  consultation  with  various  members  it  has  seemed  best  to  try 
the  experiment  of  including  in  the  present  volume,  historical  matter 
not  relating  directly  to  Topsfield,  but  of  interest  in  this  locality.  If 
the  idea  is  favorably  received  it  will  be  possible  to  enrich  our  volumes 
with  a  great  variety  of  valuable  matter  that  should  interest  and  at- 
tract a  larger  membership  from  outside  the  limits  of  the  town.  If 
it  were  possible  to  double  the  present  membership  or  to  attain  a 
total  of  five  hundred,  the  society  could  publish  annually  a  volume 
that  would  be  creditable  anywhere.  It  is  a  matter  for  consideration 
and  endeavor. 

Mr.  Sheahan  continues  as  custodian  of  the  Parson  Capen  House, 
and  thanks  to  his  extended  acquaintance,  annually  makes  friends 
for  it  in  an  ever  widening  circle.  An  illustrated  article  on  the  house, 
that  was  published  in  the  July,  1920  issue  of  "Old-Time  New  England," 
particularly  drew  attention  to  it  among  several  thousands  of  persons 
who  particularly  are  interested  in  old  houses  and  historical  work. 
It  still  remains  cue  of  the  best,  if  net  the  very  best,  example  of  Col- 
onial architecture  of  its  period. 

Respectnilry  submitted, 

George  Francis  Dow, 

Secretary. 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  TREASURER 

OF  THE 

TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  DEC.  31,   1920. 
RECEIPTS 

Jan.   1,    1920    Balance  cash  on  hand 

Received  from  annual  dues 
Historical  Collections  sold 

bindings  sold  at  ,35c 
"    at  .40c 


Town  Records  (Vol.  I  &  II  sold) 


at  ,50c 


PAYMENTS 

Town  Records  Vol.  II  printing 

Vol.  II  binding 
"  Vol.  I  binding 

Vol.  I  &  II  exp.  to  Boston  &  out 

Postage 
"  Insurance 

Printing  circulars 
Hist.  Colls.  Vol.  25,  printing 
Repayment  of  G.  F.  Dow  loan 
1000  envelopes  &  printing 
Postals  and  printing 

Jan.  3,   1921.    Balance  cash  on  hand 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  Francis  Dow, 

Treasurer. 
■ 
Approved, 

W.  Pitman  Gould, 

Auditor. 

(vii) 


$14  11 

97  00 

24  50 

8  75 

17  60 

22  50 

424  00 

$608  46 

247  32 

49  90 

26  50 

5  45 

7  06 

4  36 

3  00 

104  40 

50  00 

5  50 

3  88 

507  37 

$101  09 

TREASURER'S  REPORT  ON  THE  BUILDING  FUND 

OF  THE 

TOPSFIELD  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

FOR  THE  YEAR   ENDING   DEC.   31,    1920. 


Jan.  1,  1920. 


RECEIPTS 

Balance  cash  on  hand 

Dividends  United  Shoe  Maeh.  Co.  stock 

Rent  of  Capen  House  (Mr.  Sheahan) 


PAYMENTS 

Interest  on  collateral  note 
Acct.  printing  Hist.  Colls.  Vol.  25 
"    Vol.26 
Binding  "    Vol.  24 

Insurance,  Capen  House 
E.  M.  Dow,  "  repairs 

Mrs.  E.  E.  Ferguson,  refreshment  at  field  meeting    6  00        296  62 


$117  70 

135  00 

120  00 

$372  70 

$77  00 

100  00 

50  00 

51  19 

6  25 

6  18 

Jan.  3,  1921.    Balance  cash  on  hand 


$76  08 


STATEMENT 

On  hand  45  shares  United  Shoe  Mach.  Co.  stock 

market  value  at  38  3-4 
Less  collateral  note  Mrs.  Ada  N.  L.  Newhall 

Value  of  Fund 


$1743  75 
1400  00 

$343  75 


Parson  Capen  House  and  1  1-5  acre  land 

(cost) 
Restoration  and  furnishings 


$2100  00 
2461  12 


$4561  11 


Respectfully  submitted, 
George  Francis  Dow, 

Treasurer. 


Approved, 

W.  Pitman  Gould, 

Auditor. 


(viii) 


ESSEX    COUNTY    IN    THE    MASSACHUSETTS   BAY    COLONY 
AS  DESCRIBED  BY  EARLY  TRAVELERS. 


COMMUNICATED   BY   GEORGE   FRANCIS   DOW. 


CAPT.  FRANCIS  GOELET  IN  1750. 

CAPTAIN  Goelet  was  a  merchant  of  the  city  of  New  York  who 
made  several  voyages  to  England  during  one  of  which,  in  the 
ship  "Tartar  Galley,"  he  encountered  a  severe  storm  which 
disabled  the  vessel  and  compelled  it  to  put  into  Boston  for  repairs 
where  he  remained  from  Sept.  29  to  Nov.  7,  in  the  year  1750.  He 
kept  a  journal  of  his  "Voyages  and  Travels,"  and  abstracts  covering 
the  time  of  his  stay  in  Boston  were  printed  in  the  January,  1870  issue 
of  The  New-England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register.  Included 
are  accounts  of  visits  to  Salem  and  Marblehead. 

October  19th  [1750].  While  at  Breakfast  Mr.  Nath>  Cunningham 
waited  on  me  at  Cap1.  Wends  Agreeable  to  Promise  and  Furnished 
me  with  a  Horse  to  go  to  Salem,  being  Very  desirous  to  see  the 
Country.  Sett  out  abt  10  a  Clock  from  Cap1.  Wendells  and  Rode 
trough  the  North  End  the  Towne  and  Crostd  Charles  Town  Ferry 
which  is  abfc  1/4  mile  Over  its  a  Pleasant  Little  towne  directly  Op- 
posite the  North  End  of  Boston  and  is  pleasently  Situated  Consists 
of  ab*  200  Houses  and  where  the  Bostoneers  Build  many  Vessels,  it 
is  the  Chief  Ferry  from  Boston  Leading  to  the  main  Country  Back 
ah4  2  miles  from  thence  we  Crost  Penny  Ferry  which  is  better  then 
1/2  mile  Over  being  the  Neighest  way  to  Salem.  From  this  to  Mr. 
Wards  is  about  8  miles,  and  is  ah*  a  mile  this  Side  of  Lyn  which  is  a 
Small  Country  Towne  of  ab*  200  Houses,  very  Pleasently  Situated, 
and  affords  a  Beautifull  Rural  Prospect  we  came  to  Mr.  Wards  about 
One  a  Clock,  and  dynd  upon  Fryd  Codd  from  this  place  is  about  7 
miles  to  Salem,  after  Dinner  haveing  Refreshed  our  Selves  with  a 
Glass  wine  Sett  out  on  our  Journey  trough  a  Barren  Rockey  Country 
which  afforded  us  not  the  Least  Prospect  of  any  thing  but  a  Desart 

(1) 


2  CAPT.   FRANCIS  GOELET  IN   1750. 

Country  abounding  with  Loffty  Cragged  Rocks  a  Fine  Pastering 
Ground  only  for  their  Sheep,  the  Rhoads  are  Exceeding  Stony  and 
the  Country  but  thinly  Peopled. 

October  19th.  Arived  at  Salem  abl  3  a  Clock  put  up  our  Horses 
at  the  Wid°  Prats  from  whence  went  to  See  Coll1.. William  Browne* 
where  drank  Tea  with  his  Spouse,  after  which  Mr.  Browne  was  so 
Good  as  to  Accomodate  us  with  a  walk  round  the  Towne  Shewing 
us  the  wharfs  warehouses  &c.  went  up  in  the  Steeple  of  the  Church 
from  whence  had.  a  Fine  View  of  the  Town  Harbor  &c.  which  is 
Beautyfully  Situated  From  which  have  a  View  of  Mr.  Brownes  Country 
Seat  which  is  Situated  on  a  Heigh  Hill  ah*  6  Miles  Eastward  of  Salem 
Spent  the  Evening  at  his  House  where  Joynd  in  Company  by  Parson 
Appletonf  and  Miss  Hetty  his  daughter  from  Cambridge  they  Being 
Acquaintence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Browne  we  Supd  togeather  and  after 
that  where  Very  merry,  at  Whist  &c. 

October  20lh.  Lodg'd  at  Mr.  Brownes  after  Breakfast  Saunterd 
round  the  Towne  mayking  Our  Observations  on  the  Builds  &c  Dynd 
at  his  House  after  Dinner  had  a  Good  Deal  Conversation  with  him 
upon  Various  Subjects  he  being  a  Gentn  of  Excellent  Parts  well  Ad- 
versed  in  Leaturate  a  Good  Scholar  a  Great  Vertuosa  and  Lover  of 
the  Liberal  Arts  and  Sciences  haveing  an  Extroardenary  Library  of 
Books  of  the  Best  Ancient  and  Modern  Authors  about  3  a  Clock  we 
Sett  out  in  his  Coach  for  his  Country  Seat  rideing  trough  a  Pleasant 
Country  and  fine  Rhoads  we  arived  there  at  4  a  Clock  the  Situation 
is  very  Airy  Being  upon  a  Heigh  Hill  which  Over  Looks  the  Country 
all  Round  and  affords  a  Pleasant  Rural  Prospect  of  a  Fine  Country 
with  fine  woods  and  Lawns  with  Brooks  water  running  trough  them 
you  have  also  a  Prospect  of  the  Sea  on  one  Part  and  On  another  a 
Mountain  80  miles  distant  The  House  is  Built  in  the  Form  of  a  Long 
Square,  with  Wings  at  each  End  and  is  about  80  Foot  Long,  in  the 
middle  is  a  Grand  Hall  Surrounded  above  by  a  Fine  Gallery  with 
Neat  turned  Bannester  and  the  Ceajing  of   the  Hall  Representing  a 

*Col.  Browne  was,  at  one  time;  a  conspicuous  character  in  Salem.  lie  probably 
married  the  daughter  of  Gov.  Burnet  while  the  latter  resided  in  Mass.  His  son 
Col  William  Brown,  was  a  prominent  loyalist.— Felt's  Annals  of  Salem;  Picker- 
ing's Life  of  Timothy  Pickering;  Sabine's  American  Loyalists. 

fRev.  Nathaniel  Appleton,  D.  D. 


CAPT.    FRANCIS  GOELET  IN   1750.  3 

Large  doom  Designed  for  an  Assembly  or  Ball  Room,  the  Gallery  for 
the  Mucisians  &c.  the  Building  has  Four  Doors  Fronting  the  N.  E. 
S.  &  W.  Standing  in  the  middle  the  Great  Hall  you  have  a  Full 
View  of  the  Country  from  the  Four  Dores  at  the  Ends  of  the  Build- 
ings is  2  upper  and  2  Lower  Rooms  with  neat  Stair  Cases  Leading  to 
them  in  One  the  Lower  Rooms  is  his  Library  and  Studdy  well  Stockd 
with  a  Noble  Colection  of  Books,  the  others  are  all  unfurnish'd  as 
yet  Nor  is  the  Building  yet  Compleat  wants  a  Considerable  workman 
Ship  to  Compleat  it,  so  as  the  Design  is  But  Since  the  Loss  of  his 
first  wife  who  was  Governour  Burnetts  Daughter  of  New  York  by 
whome  he  has  yet  2  Little  Daughters  Liveing,  the  Loss  of  her  he 
took  much  to  heart  as  he  was  doateingly  fond  of  her  Being  a  Charm- 
ing Ladie  when  married.  But  he  is  now  determined  to  Compleat  it 
we  drank  a  Glass  wine  haveing  Feasted  our  Eyes  with  the  Prospect 
of  the  Country  Returned  to  his  House  where  Sup'd  and  Past  the 
Evening  Vastly  Agreeable  being  a  Very  mery  Facitious  Gentlemen, 
went  to  bed  Intends  to  Proceed  to  Marble  head  Next  Morning. 

October  21st.  Haveing  Got  our  Horses  ready,  after  Breakfast  took 
our  Leaves  0f  Mr.  Browne  and  Spouse.  Before  proceed  shall  Give  a 
Discription  of  Salem  Its  a  Small  Sea  Port  Towne.  Consists  of  abl 
450  Houses,  Several  of  which  are  neat  Buildings,  but  all  of  wood, 
and  Covers  a  Great  Deal  of  Ground,  being  at  a  Conveniant  Distance 
from  Each  Other,  with  fine  Gardens  back  their  Houses,  the  Town 
is  Situated  on  a  Neck  of  Land  Navagable  on  either  Side  is  ah*  2  1/2 
Miles  in  Lenght  Including  the  Builds  Back  the  Towne,  has  a  main 
Street  runs  directly  trough,  One  Curch  3  Presbiterian  and  One 
Quakers  Meeting,     the  Situation  is  Very  Pretty  &c. 

The  Trade  Consists  Chiefly  in  the  Cod  Fishery,  they  have  ah*  60 
or  70  Sail  Schooners  Employd  in  that  Branch.  Saw  afr  30  Sail  in 
the  Harbr  hav«  then  abl  40  at  Sea.  They  Cure  all  their  Own  Cod 
for  Markett,  Saw  there  a  Vast  Number  Flakes  Cureing,  in  the  Har- 
bour Lay  also  two  Topsail  Vessels  and  three  Sloops,  on  Exams  into 
the  Fishery  find  it  a  very  adventags  Branch. 

Wee  arived  at  Marblehead  at  abl  10  a  Clock,  which  is  abfc  4  Miles 
by  Land,  trough  a  Pleasent  Country  and  good  Roades,  and  is  about 
1  1/2  Miles  by  Water,  it  forms  a  Bay,  Marblehead  lays  on  the  East- 


4  CAPT.   FRANCIS  GOELET  IN   1750. 

ermost  part  of  the  Land  but  ye  west  Side  the  Bay,  and  Salem  on  a 
Point,  the  Westermost  part  of  the  Land  and  Easttermost  Side  the 
Bay,  before  you  Enter  Marblehead  the  Roads  are  Excessive  Stony 
and  Land  very  Rockey,  affording  only  very  Little  Pasture  Ground, 
Put  up  at  Mr.  Reads  where  Breakfast  and  Then  went  to  see  the 
Towne  of  Marblehead,  has  abl  450  Houses  all  v/ood  and  Clapboarded 
the  Generality  Miserable  Buildings,  Mostly  Close  in  with  the  Rocks, 
with  Rockey  foundations  Very  Craggy  and  Crasey.  The  whole  Towne 
is  Built  upon  a  Rock,  which  is  Heigh  and  Steep  to  the  water.  The 
Harbour  is  Sheltered  by  an  Island,  which  Runs  along  Parralell  to  it, 
and  brakes  of  the  Sea,  Vessells  may  Ride  here  Very  safe,  there  is  a 
Path  or  way  downe  to  the  warf  which  is  but  Small  and  on  which  is  a 
Large  Ware  House,  where  they  Land  their  Fish  &c.  From  this  heigh 
Cliffty  Shore  it  took  its  Name,  I  saw  ab1  5  Topsail  Vessells  and  ah* 
10  Schooners  and  Sloops  in  the  Harbour,  they  had  then  ab*  70  Sail 
Schooners  a  Fishing,  with  abfc  600  men  and  Boys  imployed  in  the 
Fishery,  they  take  Vast  Quantities  Cod,  which  they  Cure  heere  Saw 
Several  Thousand  Flakes  then  Cureing.  This  Place  is  Noted  for 
Children  and  Noureches  the  most  of  any  Place  for  its  Bigness  in 
North  America,  it's  Said  the  Chief  Cause  is  attributed  to  their  feed- 
ing on  Cods  Heads,  &c.  which  is  their  Principall  Diett.  The  Great- 
est Distaste  a  Person  has  to  this  Place  is  the  Stench  of  the  Fish,  the 
whole  Air  seems  Tainted  with  it.  It  may  in  Short  be  Said  its  a 
Dirty  Erregular  Stincking  Place.  About  Eleven  Sett  out  from 
Marblehead  and  abl  One  Arived  at  Linn  Dynd  upon  a  Fine  Mongrell 
Goose  at  Mr.  Wards,  after  Dinner  Proceed11  on  Our  Journey  Past 
trough  Mistick  which  is  a  Small  Town  of  abl  a  hundred  Houses 
Pleasently  Situated  near  to  which  is  a  Fine  Country  Seat  belonging 
to  Mr.  Isaac  Royall  being  One  of  the  Grandest  in  N.  America  Arived 
at  Charles  Towne  abl  7  a  Clock  and  Crosed  the  Ferry  at  North  End 
and  Came  to  Mr.  Jacob  Wendells  where  Spent  the  Evening  with 
Several  Gentlemen. 


HUGH  FINLAY  IN  1773. 

HUGH  Finlay  was  an  Englishman  who  came  to  Canada  in  1760 
where  he  established  himself  in  business  and  became  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Legislative  Councillor.  When  Benja- 
min Franklin  came  to  Canada  in  1772  to  establish  a  postal  service 
he  placed  it  in  Finlay's  hands  and  when  Franklin  was  dismissed  in 
1774  Finlay  was  made  Deputy  Postmaster  General  of  the  Northern 
District  of  North  America.  In  1775  he  lived  in  "Holland  House" 
which  was  occupied  by  Gen.  Montgomery  as  his  headquarters.  After 
the  Revolution  he  became  Deputy  Postmaster  General  for  the  British 
Colonies  in  North  America  and  died  in  1802.  In  1773  and  1774  he 
made  a  tour  of  inspection  along  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far  south  as 
Georgia  and  the  following  account  is  abstracted  from  the  Journal  kept 
by  Hugh  Finlay,  1773-1774,  Brooklyn,  1867. 

Left  Portsmouth  [Oct.  9,  1773]  after  dinner,  and  arrived  at  New- 
bury (22  miles),  Bulkeley  Emerson,  Dep'y.  On  Sunday  10th  did  no 
business. 

Monday  11th.  Examined  the  books,  they  were  in  form  and  up  to 
this  day :  he  has  no  office,  but  receives  and  delivers  letters  in  his 
shop,  he  is  a  bookseller.  He  seems  to  be  a  stayed,  sober  man.  Re- 
ceived the  balance  of  the  quarter  ending  the  5th.  The  Post  from 
Boston  arrives  on  Tuesdays  at  6  o'clock  in  the  evening.  From  Ports- 
mouth on  the  same  day  at  one  P.  M.  From  Boston  on  Friday  .6 
o'clock  P.  M.  in  summer.  From  Portsmouth  on  Friday  between  4 
and  5  P.  M.  The  mail  for  Boston  is  made  up  on  Tuesday,  one  o'clock. 
For  the  Eastward  at  the  same  time.  For  Boston  on  Friday  4  o'clock 
P.  M.  For  the  Eastward  at  the  same  time,  but  theres  seldom  any  letters 
either  for  East  or  West.  The  stages  and  private  conveyances  take 
it  all.  Left  a  copy  of  Mr  Foxcrofts  directions  to  me  dated  16th  Sept. 
to  settle  and  receive  balances  from  the  Deputy  Post  masters.  Mr. 
Emerson  thinks  that  the  want  of  Post-horns  is  a  loss  to  the  office, 
for  by  warning  given  by  the  horn  many  letters  wou'd  go  by  Post 
which  are  now  sent  by  other  oportunity's — the  Post  shou'd  blow  be- 

(5) 


6  HUGH   FINLAY  IN   1773. 

fore  the  hour  of  shutting,  and  in  passing  on  his  way  many  letters 
wou'd  be  deliver'd  to  him.  He  asks,  whether,  if  the  drivers  of  stages 
were  to  be  paid  a  penny  for  every  letter  they  bring  to  the  office  he 
might  charge  two  pence  for  all  such  letters  deliverable  in  town.  The 
Rider  who  brings  the  mails  to  this  office  is  punctual.  The  office  here 
neither  encreases  nor  diminishes,  the  rece't  is  from  £9  to  £10  lawful, 
quarterly. 

Left  Newbury  and  proceeded  12  miles  to  Ipswitch,  James  Foster, 
Dep'y.  Gone. to  the  country  ;  he  keeps  a  small  shop.  Left  directions 
for  him  in  writing  to  send  his  accots.  with  the  General  Post  office 
by  next  Post.,  directed  for  me  at  the  Post  Office  in  Boston,  and  also 
to  send  the  balance  of  his  account,  and  to  inform  me  of  Lhe  days  and 
hours  of  the  arrival  of  mails  at  his  office,  and  the  times  of  the  Post's 
departure  from  his  office,  with  any  proposals  he  may  have  to  make 
for  the  good  of  the  office — with  his  report  of  the  riders  employed. 
Proceeded  12  miles  to  Salem,  Edward  Norice,  Dep'y. 

October  11th.  His  books  were  not  in  good  order,  he  follows 
the  form,  but  they  are  dirty  and  not  brought  up  regularly ;  he  under- 
stands the  business  of  a  deputy.  The  office  is  kept  in  a  small  mean 
looking  place.  He  teaches  writing.  He  has  no  commission  to  act, 
he  took  charge  of  the  office  at  the  death  of  his  father ;  he  reports 
that  every  other  day  the  stage  coach  goes  for  Boston,  the  drivers 
take  many  letters,  so  that  but  few  are  forwarded  by  Post  to  or  from 
his  office.  If  any  information  were  lodged  (but  an  informer  wou'd 
get  tar'd  and  featner  d)  no  jury  wou'd  find  the  fact ;  it  is  deem'd 
necessary  to  hinder  all  acts  of  Parliament  from  taking  effect  in 
America.  They  are  they  say  to  be  governed  by  laws  of  their  own 
framing  and  no  other. 

•  While  Mr.  Norrice  was  making  up  his  accounts  I  went  down  the 
12th,  four  miles,  to  Marblehead,  Woodward  Abrahams,  Deputy.  He 
was  from  home :  his  wife  informs  me  that  he  accounts  to  Mr.  Hub- 
bard, Post  Master  in  Boston,  and  the  quarter  ending  the  5th  July 
was  settled  and  transmitted.  Wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  Abrahams,  as 
follows : 

"My  business  with  you  was  to  look  into  your  office  books,  to  re- 
ceive   the  quarters  account  ending  the  5th  of  this  month,  and  the 


HUGH   FINLAY  IN   1773.  7 

balance  due  by  you  to  the  General  Office,  and  to  enquire  if  you 
have  anything  to  propose  for  the  good  of  the  service,  or  any  thing 
to  represent  needing  amendment,  but  as  I  have  miss'd  of  you,  I  pray 
you  to  transmit  the  accounts  and  balance  to  me  at  Mr.  Hubbard's 
in  Boston  by  the  first  Post :  and  be  so  good  as  to  inform  me  of  any 
matter  which  you  think  a  Surveyor  shou'd  be  made  acquainted  with, 
whose  business  is  to  further  the  interest  of  the  General  Post  Office, 
and  facilitate  correspondence  by  every  possible  means.  I  shou'd 
be  glad  to  know  particularly  how  the  mails  are  forwarded,  since 
John  Noble  cannot  ride  thro'  this  place.  I  shall  leave  Salem  for 
Boston  to  morrow  morning,  where  I  shall  remain  some  days." 

In  passing  thro'  the  street  in  my  way  back  to  Salem,  I  met  Mr. 
Abrahams  on  his  return  from  the  country  :  a  few  minutes  before  my 
letter  was  put  into  his  hands,  he  promised  to  comply  with  my  demands, 
lie  appears  to  be  an  intelligent  man ;  he  has  an  employment  in  the 
Customs,  and  keeps  the  Post  Office  where  he  does  the  Custom  House 
business.  Noble,  the  rider,  cannot  go  down  to  Marblehead  at  present. 
The  small-pox  is  in  Salem,  and  was  he  to  go  down  with  the  mail  he 
wou'd  be  oblig'd  to  undergo  the  ceremony  of  smoaking,  that  is,  to 
be  fumigated  with  brim-stone ;  as  he  is  of  a  weakly  constitution  he 
cannot  submit  to  it,  therefore  he  leaves  the  Marblehead  bag  to  take 
its  chance  of  a  conveyance ;  opportunitys  happen  once  or  twice  a  day, 
yet  it  sometimes  lies  for  days  at  Salem — the  people  in  Marblehead 
complain  of  this.  It  is  Noble's  duty  to  send  it  down  by  a  person 
sent  on  purpose,  this  rider  is  careful-,  sober  and  punctual;  he  rides 
all  the  way  to  Portsmouth. 

On  my  return  to  Salem  I  settled  with  Mr.  Norice,  who  would  not 
swear  to  his  accounts  as  he  has  no  commission.  The  Post  from 
Boston  arrives  at  Salem  on  Tuesday  12  o'clock,  and  he  is  dispatch'd 
for  the  Eastward  at  2;  coming  from  Boston  the  rider  goes  first  to 
Marblehead.  He  returns  from  the  Eastward  every  Saturday  morn- 
ing at  10  o'clock,  and  takes  Marblehead  on  his  way  to  Boston.  Left 
Salem  and  proceeded  21  miles  to  Boston,  (where  I  arrived  the  13th), 
Tuthill  Hubbard,  Post  Master. 


MARQUIS  DE  CHASTELLUX  IN  1782. 

FRANCOIS  Jean  Chastellux  was  born  in  Paris  in  1734  and  at  an 
early  age  entered  the  army.  In  1777,  he  was  a  Major-General 
under  Rochambeau  in  the  American  army  and  afterwards 
travelled  through  the  Middle  States,  to  Massachusetts  and  New 
Hampshire  in  1782.  The  following  year  he  sailed  from  Philadelphia 
and  returned  to  France  where  he  died  Oct.  28,  1788  in  Paris.  The 
following  account  of  his  journey  through  Essex  County  is  abstracted 
from  the  English  translation  of  his  travels  published  under  the  follow- 
ing title  :  Travels  in  North  America  in  the  years  1780,  1 781  and  1 782. 
By  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux,  2  vols.,  London,  1787. 

It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  [Oct.  1782]  that  I  examined  the 
field  of  battle  at  Concord,  which  took  me  up  till  half  past  ten,  when 
I  resumed  my  journey.  Ten  miles  from  Concord  is  Bellerika,  a  pretty 
considerable  township ;  the  country  here  was  less  fertile,  and  the 
road  rather  stony.  We  halted  at  South  Andover,  five  miles  beyond 
Billerika,  at  a  bad  inn,  kept  by  one  Forster;  his  wife  had  some 
beautiful  children,  but  she  appeared  disordered,  and  I  thought  her 
rather  drunk.  She  shewed  me,  with  much  importance,  a  book  her 
eldest  daughter  was  reading,  and  I  found  it,  to  my  no  small  surprise, 
to  be  a  book  of  prayers  in  Italian.  This  daughter,  who  was  about 
seventeen,  repeated  also  a  prayer  in  the  Indian  language,  of  which 
she  understood  not  a  word,  having  learnt  it  accidentally  from  an 
Indian  servant;  but  her  mother,  thought  all  this  admirable.  We 
contented  ourselves  with  baiting  our  horses  in  this  wretched  alehouse, 
and  set  out  at  half  past  one,  travelled  through  South  and  North  An- 
dover. North-Parish,  or,  North  Andover,  is  a  charming  place,  where 
there  are  a  great  number  of  very  handsome  houses,  a  quantity  of 
meadows,  and  fine  cattle.  Almost  on  quitting  this  long  township, 
you  enter  Bradford,  where  night  overtook  us,  and  we  travelled  two 
or  three  miles  in  the  dark  before  we  reached  Haverhill  ferry.  It  was 
half  past  six  before  we  had  crossed  it,  and  got  to  Mr.  Harward's  inn, 
where  we  had  a  good  supper,  and  good  lodgings.     At  Haverhill,  the 

(8) 


MARQUIS  DE  CHASTELLUX   IN   1782.  9 

Merimack  is  only  fit  for  vessels  of  thirty  tons,  but  much  .larger  ones 
are  built  here,  which  are  floated  down  empty  to  Newbury.  Three 
miles  above  Haverhill  are  falls,  and  higher  up  the  river  is  only  navig- 
able for  boats.  The  trade  of  this  town  formerly  consisted  in  timber 
for  ship-building,  which  has  been  suspended  since  the  war.  It  is 
pretty  considerable,  and  tolerably  well  built;  and  its  situation,  in 
the  form  of  an  amphitheatre  on  the  left  shore  of  the  Merimack,  gives 
it  many  agreeable  aspects. 

We  left  this  place  the  9th  at  nine  in  the  morning,  our  road  lying 
through  Plastow,  a  pretty  considerable  township;  after  which  we 
met  with  woods,  and  a  wild  and  horrid  country.  [The  Marquis  then 
passed  through  Kingston,  Exeter  and  Greenland  and  reached  Ports- 
mouth that  evening.]     ... 

The  road  from  Portsmouth  to  Newbury  passes  through  a  barren 
country.  Hampton  is  the  only  township  you  meet  with,  and  there 
are  not  such  handsome  houses  there  as  at  Greenland.  As  we  had 
only  twenty  miles  to  go,  I  was  unwilling  to  stop,  and  desired  the 
Vicomte  de  Vaudreiul  only,  to  go  on  a  little. before  us  to  dinner.  It 
was  two  o'clock  when. we  reached  Merimack  ferry,  and  from  the 
shore  we  saw  the  openings  of  the  harbour,  the  channel  of  which 
passes  near  the  northern  extremity  of  Plumb  Island,  on  which  is  a 
small  fort,  with  a  few  cannon  and  mortars.  Its  situation  appears  to 
me  well  chosen,  at  least  as  far  as  I  was  capable  of  judging  from  a 
distance.  At  the  entrance  of  the  harbour  is  a  bar,  on  which  there 
are  only  eighteen  feet  water  in  the  highest  tides,  so  that  although  it 
be  a  very  commercial  place,  it  has  always  been  respected  by  the 
English. 

Several  frigates  had  been  built  here;  amongst  others,  the  Charles- 
Town,  and  the.  Alliance.  The  harbour  is  extensive,  and  well  sheltered. 
After  passing  the  ferry  in  little  flat  boats,  which  held  only  five  horses 
each,  we  went  to  Mr.  Davenports'  inn,*  where  we  found  a  good  din- 
ner ready. 

I  had  letters  from  Mr.  Wcntworth  to  Mr.  John  Tracy,  the  most 
considerable  merchant  in  the  place;  but  before  I  had  time  to  send 
them,  he  had  heard  of  my  arrival,  and,  as  I  was  arising  from  table, 

*Now  the  "Wolfe  Tavern." 


10  MARQUIS  DE  CHASTELLUX   IN    1782. 

entered  the  room,  and  very  politely  invited  me  to  pass  the  evening 
with  him.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  Colonel,  whose  name  is  too 
difficult  for  me  to  write,  having  never  been  able  to  catch  the  manner 
of  pronouncing  it,  but  it  was  something  like  Wigsleps.*  This 
Colonel  remained  with  me  till  Mr.  Tracy  finished  his  business,  when 
he  came  with  two  handsome  carriages,  well  equipped,  and  conducted 
me  and  my  Aide  de  Campe  to  his  country-house.  This  house  stands 
a  mile  from  the  town,  in  a  very  beautiful  situation ;  but  of  this  I 
could  myself  form  no  judgment,  as  it  was  already  night.  I  went 
however,  by  moonlight,  to  see.  the  garden,  which  is  composed  of 
different  terraces. 

There  is  likewise  a  hot-house  and  a  number  of  young  trees.  The 
house  is  very  handsome  and  well  finished,  and  every  thing  breathes 
that  air  of  magnificence  accompanied  with  simplicity,  which  is  only 
to  be  found  amongst  merchants. 

The  evening  passed  rapidly  by  the  aid  of  agreeable  conversation 
and  a  few  glasses  of  punch.  The  ladies  we  found  assembled  were 
Mrs.  Tracy,  her  two  sisters,  and  their  cousin,  Miss  Lee.  Mrs.  Tracy 
has  an  agreeable  and  a  sensible  countenance,  and  her  manners  corres- 
pond with  her  appearance.  At  ten  o'clock  an  excellent  supper  was 
served,  we  drank  good  wine,  Miss  Lee  sung  and  prevailed  on 
Messieurs  de  Vaudreiul  and  Taleyrand  to  sing  also :  towards  midnight 
the  ladies  withdrew,  but  we  continued  drinking  Maderia  and  Xary. 
Mr.  Tracy,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  country,  offered  us  pipes 
which  were  accepted  by  M.  de  Taleyrand, f  and  M.  de  Montesquieu, 
the  consequence  of  which  was  that  they  became  intoxicated,  and 
were  led  home,  where  they  were  happy  to  get  to  bed. 

As  to  myself,  I  remained  perfectly  cool,  and  continued  to  converse 
on  trade  and  politics  with  Mr.  Tracy,  who  interested  me  greatly  with 
an  account  of  all  the  vicissitudes  of  his  fortune  since  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  At  the  end  of  1777,  his  brother  and  he  had  lost  one 
and  forty  ships,  and  with  regard  to  himself,  he  had  not  a  ray  of  hope 
but  in  a  single  letter  of  marque  of  eight  guns,  of  which  he  had  re- 
ceived no  news.     As  he  was  walking  one  day  with  his  brother,  and 

*Col.  Edward  Wiggles  worth. 

fCount  Bozon  de  Perigord,  alias  de  Talleyrand. 


MARQUIS  DE  CHASTELLUX   IN  1782.  11 

they  were  reasoning  together  on  the  means  of  subsisting  their  fami- 
lies (for  they  were  both  married)  they  perceived  a  sail  making  for 
the  harbour.  He  immediately  interrupted  the  conversation,  saying 
to  his  brother,  "Perhaps  it  is  a  prize  for  me."  The  latter  laughed 
at  him,  but  he  immediately  took  a  boat,  went  to  meet  the  ship,  and 
found  that  it  was  in  fact  a  prize  belonging  to  him,  worth  five  and 
twenty  thousand  pounds  sterling.  Since  that  period,  he  has  been 
almost  always  fortunate,  and  he  is  at  present  thought  to  be  worth 
£120,000  sterling.  He  has  my  warmest  wishes  for  his  prosperity ; 
for  he  is  a  sensible,  polite  man,  and  a  good  patriot.  He  has  always 
assisted  his  country  in  time  of  need,  and  in  1781  lent  five  thousand 
pounds  to  the  State  of  Massachusetts  for  the  clothing  of  their  troops, 
and  that  only  on  the  receipt  of  the  Treasurer,  yet  his  quota  of  taxes 
in  that  very  year  amounted  to  six  thousand  pounds.  One  can  hardly 
conceive  how  a  simple  individual  can  be  burthened  so  far;  but  it 
must  be  understood,  that  besides  the  duty  of  5  per  cent,  on  import- 
ation, required  by  Congress,  the  State  imposed  another  tax  of  the 
same  value  on  the  sale  of  every  article,  in  the  nature  of  an  excise, 
on  rum,  sugar,  coffee,  &c.  These  taxes  are  levied  with  great  rigour : 
a  merchant  who  receives  a  vessel  is  obliged  to  declare  the  cargo, 
and  nothing  can  go  out  of  the  ship  or  warehouse  without  paying  the 
duty.  The  consequence  of  this  restraint  is,  that  the  merchants,  in 
order  to  obtain  free  use  of  their  property,  are  obliged  themselves  to 
turn  retailers,  and  pay  the  whole  duty,  the  value  of  which  they  must 
recover  from  those  to  whom  they  sell.  Without  this,  they  could 
neither  draw  from  their  stores,  what  is  necessary  for  their  own  con- 
sumption, nor  the  small  articles,  which  they  are  in  the  way  of  selling, 
at  the  first  hand ;  they  are  consequently  obliged  to  take  out  licences, 
like  tavern-keepers  and  retailers,  thus  supporting  the  whole  weight 
of  the  impost  both  as  merchants  and  as  shop-keepers.  Patriot  as  he 
is,  Mr.  Tracy  cannot  help  blaming  the  rigour  with  which  commerce 
is  treated ;  a  rigour  arising  from  the  preponderance  of  the  farmers 
and  landholders,  and  also  from  the  necessity  which  the  government 
is  under  of  finding  money  where  it  can ;  for  the  farmers  easily  evade 
the  taxes;  certificates,  receipts,  alledged  grievances,  reduce  them  al- 
most to  nothing.     Thus  has  a  State,  yet  in  its  infancy,  all  the  infirm- 


12  MARQUIS  DE  CHASTELLUX   IN   17S2. 

ities  of  age,,  and  taxation  attaches  itself  to  the  very  source  of  wealth, 
at  the  risk  of  drying  up  its  channels.  [This  observation  appears 
rather  forced,  as  applied  generally,  the  Marquis  admitting  that  there 
impositions  were  the  result  of  a  critical  and  immediate  want.  Trans- 
lator.] 

I  left  Newbury  Port,  the  13th  at  ten  in  the  morning,,  and  often 
stopped  before  I  lost  sight  of  this  pretty  little  town,  for  I  had  great 
pleasure  in  enjoying  the  different  aspects  it  presents.  It  is  in  general 
well  built,  and  is  daily  increasing  in  new  buildings.  The  warehouses 
of  the  merchants,  which  are  near  their  own  houses,  serve  by  way  of 
ornament,  and  in  point  of  architecture  resemble  not  a  little  our  large 
green-houses.  You  cannot  see  the  ocean  from  the  road  to  Ipswich  ; 
and  the  country  to  the  eastward  is  dry  and  rocky.  Toward  the  west 
it  is  more  fertile;  but  in  general  the  land  throughout  the  country, 
bordering  on  the  sea,  is  not  fruitful.  At  the  end  of  twelve  miles  is 
Ipswich,  where  we  stopped  to  bait  our  horses,  and  were  surprised  to 
find  a  town  between  Newbury  and  Salem,  at  least  as  populous  as 
these  two  sea-ports,  though  indeed  much  less  opulent. 

But  mounting  an  eminence  near  the  tavern,  I  saw  that  Ipswich 
was  also  a  sea»port.  I  was  told  however  that  the  entrance  was  difli- 
cult,  and  at  some  times  of  the  year  there  were  not  five  feet  upon  the 
bar.  From  this  eminence  you  see  Cape  Anne,  and  the  south  side  of 
Plumb  island,  as  well  as  a  part  of  the  north.  The  bearing  of  the  coast, 
which  trends  to  the  eastward,  seems  to  me  badly  laid  down  in  the 
charts;  this  coast  trends  more  southerly  above  Ipswich,  and  forms  a 
sort  of  bay. 

Ipswich  at  present  has  but  little  trade,  and  its  fishery  is  also  on  the 
decline;  but  the  ground  in  the  neighborhood  is  pretty  good,  and 
abounds  in  pasturage,  so  that  the  seamen  having  turned  farmers, 
they  have  been  in  no  want  of  subsistence,  which  may  account  like- 
wise for  the  very  considerable  population  of  this  place  where  you 
meet  with  upwards  of  two  hundred  houses,  in  about  two  miles  square. 

Before  you  arrive  at  Salem,  is  a  handsome  rising  town  called 
Beverley.  This  is  a  new  establishment  produced  by  commerce,  on 
the  left  shore  of  the  creek  which  bathes  the  town  of  Salem  on  the 
north  side.     One  cannot  but  be   astonished  to  see  beautiful  houses, 


MARQUIS  DE  CHASTELLUX   IN   1782.  13 

large  warehouses,  &c.  springing  up  in  great  numbers,  at  so  small  a 
distance  from  a  commercial  town,  the  prosperity  of  which  is  not 
diminished  by  it.  The  rain  overtook  us  just  as  we  were  passing  near 
the  lake  which  is  three  miles  from  Beverley.  We  crossed  the  creek 
in  two  flat-bottomed  boats,  containing  each  six  horses.  It  is  near  a 
mile  wide;  and  in  crossing,  we  could  very  plainly  distinguish  the 
opening  of  the  harbour,  and  a  castle  situated  on  the  extremity  of  the 
neck,  which  defends  the  entrance.  This  neck  is  a  tongue  of  land 
running  to  the  eastward  and  connected  with  Salem  only  by  a  very 
narrow  sort  of  causeway.  On  the  other  side  of  the  neck,  and  of  the 
causeway,  is  the  creek  that  forms  the  true  port  of  Salem,  which  has 
no  other  defence  than  the  extreme  difficulty  of  entering  without  a  good 
practical  pilot.  The  view  of  these  tv/o  ports,  which  are  confounded 
together  to  the  sight ;  that  of  the  town  of  Salem,  which  is  embraced 
by  two  creeks,  or  rather  arms  of  the  sea,  the  ships  and  edifices  which 
appear  intermingled,  form  a  very  beautiful  picture,  which  I  regret 
not  having  seen  at  a  better  season  of  the  year.  As  I  had  no  letters 
for  any  inhabitants  of  Salem,  I  alighted  at  Goodhue's  tavern,*  now 
kept  by  Mr.  Robinson,  which  I  found  very  good,  and  was  soon  served 
with  an  excellent  supper.  In  this  inn  was  a  sort  of  club  of  merchants, 
twoor  three  of  whom  came  to  visit  me;  and  amongst  others,  Mr.  de 
la  Fille,  a  merchant  of  Bordeaux,  who  had  been  established  five  years 
at  Boston;  he  appeared  a  sensible  man,  and  pretty  well  informed 
respecting  the  commerce  of  the  country,  the  language  of  which  he 
speaks  well. 

The  14th  in  the  morning,  Mr.  de  la  Fille  called  upon  me  to  conduct 
me  to  see  the  port  and  some  of  the  warehouses.  I  found  the  harbour 
commodious  for  commerce,  as  vessels  may  unload  and  take  in  their 
lading  at  the  quays;  there  were  about  twenty  in  the  port,  several  of 
which  were  ready  to  sail,  and  others  which  had  just  arrived.  In 
general,  this  place  has  a  rich  and  animated  appearance.  At  my  re- 
turn to  the  inn  I  found  several  merchants  who  came  to  testify  their 
regret  at  not  having  been  appraized  more  early  of  my  arrival,  and 
at  not  having  it  in  their  power  to  do  the  honours  of  the  town. 

"The  "Sun  Tavern,"  located  in  Essex  Street,  a  short  distance  east  of  St.  Peter 
Street. 


14  MARQUIS  DE  CHASTELLUX   IN   1782. 

At  eleven,  I  got  on  horseback,  and  taking  the  road  to  Boston,  was 
surprised  to  see  the  town,  or  suburb  of  Salem,  extending  near  a  mile 
in  length  to  the  westward.  On  the  whole  it  is  difficult  to  conceive 
the  state  of  increase,  and  the  prosperity  of  this  country,  after  so  long 
and  so  calamitous  a  war.  The  road  from  Salem  to  Boston  passes 
through  an  arid  and  rocky  country,  always  within  three  or  four 
miles  of  the  sea,  without  having  a  sight  of  it;  at  length,  however, 
after  passing  Lynn,  and  Lynn  Creek,  you  get  a  view  of  it,  and  find 
yourself  in  a  bay  formed  by  Nahant's  Point,  and  Pulling's  Point.  I 
got  upon  the  rocks  to  the  right  of  the  roads,  in  order  to  embrace 
more  of  the  country,  and  form  a  better  judgment. 

I  could  distinguish  not  only  the  whole  bay,  but  several  of  the  is- 
lands in  Boston  road,  and  part  of  the  peninsular  of  Nantasket,  near 
which  I  discovered  the  masts  of  our  ships  of  war.  From  hence  to 
Winisimmet  ferry,  you  travel  over  disagreeable  roads,  sometimes  at 
the  foot  of  rocks,  at  others  across  salt  marshes.  It  is  just  eighteen 
miles  from  Salem  to  the  ferry,  where  we  embarked  in  a  large  scow, 
containing  twenty  horses;  and  the  wind,  which  was  rather  contrary, 
becoming  more  so,  we  made  seven  tacks,  and  were  near  an  hour  in 
passing.  The  landing  is  to  the  northward  of  the  port,  and  to  the 
east  of  Charles-Town  ferry. 


JOHN  ADAMS  IN  1766-1774. 

THE  second  President  of  the  United  States,  when  a  young  man 
and  a  practicing  lawyer,  frequently  had  occasion  to  visit  Essex 
County  in  connection  with  the  sessions  of  the  Courts.  He  al- 
so had  a  brother-in-law  living  in  Salem — Richard  Cranch,  a  watch- 
maker, whose  son  William,  became  a  Justice  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court.  John  Adams  makes  no  mention  in  his  diary  of  a 
murder  trial  held  in  the  old  court  house  at  Salem  in  1769  in  which 
he  appeared  for  the  defendant.  The  case  was  unusual  in  that  at  a 
preliminary  hearing  the  medieval  "ordeal  of  touch"  was  invoked  to 
support  the  claims  of  the  accusers.  There  was  a  similar  instance  at 
Woburn  a  few  years  earlier.  The  following  extracts  are  taken  from 
his  diary  as  printed  in  Volume  II  of  The  Works  of  John  Adams, 
Boston,  1850. 

August  12,  1766.  Tuesday.  Set  out  with  my  wife  for  Salem; 
dined  at  Boston ;  drank  tea  at  Dr.  Simon  Tuft's  at  Medford ;  lodged 
at  Mr.  Bishop's. 

Aug.  13.  Wednesday.  Set  out  from  Mr.  Bishop's,  oated  at  Nor- 
wood's, alias  Martin's,  and  reached  brother  Cranch's*  at  twelve 
o'clock;  dined  and  drank  tea,  and  then  rode  down  to  the  Neck  Gate, 
and  then  back  through  the  Common  and  down  to  Beverly  Ferry,  then 
back  through  the  Common  and  round  the  back  part  of  the  town 
home ;  then  walked  round  the  other  side  of  the  town  to  Colonel 
Browne's,  who  not  being  at  home  we  returned. 

The  town  is  situated  on  a  plain,  a  level,  a  flat;  scarce  an  emin- 
ence can  be  found  anywhere  to  take  a  view.  The  streets  are  broad 
and  straight,  and  pretty  clean.  The  houses  are  the  most  elegant 
and  grand  that  I  have  seen  in  any  of  the  maritime  towns. 

Aug.  14.  Thursday.  In  the  morning  rode  a  single  horse,  in  com- 
pany with  Mrs.  Cranch  and  Mrs.  Adams  in  a  chaise  to  Marblehead. 
The  road  from  Salem  to  Marblehead,  four  miles,  is  pleasant  indeed. 
The  grass  plats  and  fields  are  delightful,  but  Marblehead  differs  from 

*Richard  Cranch,  who  had  married  a  sister  of  John  Adams'  wife. 

(15) 


16  JOHN  ADAMS  IN  1766-1774. 

Salem.  The  streets  are  narrow,  and  rugged,  and  dirty,  but  there  are 
some  very  grand  buildings. 

•Returned  and  dined  at  Cranch's;  after  dinner  walked  to  Witchcraft 
hill,  a  hill  about  half  a  mile  from  Cranch's,  where  the  famous  persons 
formerly  executed  for  witches  were  buried.  Somebody  within  a  few 
years  has  planted  a  number  of  locust  trees  over  the  graves,  as  a 
memorial  of  that  memorable  victory  over  the  "prince  of  the  power 
of  the  air."  This  hill  is  in  a  large  common  belonging  to  the  proprie- 
tors of  Salem,  &c.  From  it  you  have  a  fair  view  of  the  town,  of  the 
river,  the  north  and  south  fields,  of  Marblehead,  o[  Judge  Lynde's 
pleasure  house,  &c,  of  Salem  village,  &c. 

#  *  :J;  #  :|s  *  *  :'fi 

November  3,  1766.  Monday.  Set  off  with  my  wife  for  Salem ; 
stopped  half  an  hour  at  Boston,  crossed  the  ferry,  and  at  three  o'clock 
arrived  at  Hill's,  the  tavern  in  Maiden,  the  sign  of  the  Rising  Eagle, 
at  the  brook  near  Mr.  Emerson's  meeting-house,  five  miles  from 
Norwood's ;  where,  namely,  at  Hill's,  we  dined.  Here  we  fell  in 
company  with  Kent  and  S'ewall.  We  all  oated  at  Martin's,  where 
we  found  the  new  sheriff  of  Essex,  Colonel  Saltonstall.  We  all  rode 
into  town  together.  Arrived  at  my  dear  brother  Cranch's  about 
eight,  and  drank  tea,  and  are  all  very  happy.  Sat  and  heard  the 
ladies  talk  about  ribbon,  catgut,  and  Paris  net,  riding-hoods,  cloth, 
silk,  and  lace.  Brother  Cranch  came  home,  and  -a  very  happy  even- 
ing we  had.  Cranch  is  now  in  a  good  situation  for  business,  near 
the  court-house  and  Mr.  Barnard's  meeting  house,  and  on  the  road 
to  Marblehead  ;  his  house  fronting  the  wharves,  the  harbor  and  ship- 
ping, has  a  fine  prospect  before  it. 

Nov.  4.  Tuesday.  A  line  morning.  Attended  court  all  day; 
heard  the  charge  to  the  jury,  and  a  prayer  by  Mr.  Barnard.  Deacon 
Pickering  was  foreman  of  one  of  the  juries.  This  man,  famous  for 
his  writing  in  newspapers  concerning  church  order  and  government 
they  tell  me  is  very  rich ;  his  appearance  is  perfectly  plain,  like  a 
farmer;  his   smooth   combed  locks   flow  behind    him   like   Deacon 

Cushings,'  though  not  so  giay;  has  a  quick  eye  like ;  he  has  an 

hypocritical  demure  on  his  face  like  Deacon  Foster ;  his  mouth  makes 
a  semicircle  when  he  puts  on  that  devout  face.     Deacon  Penniman 


JOHN  ADAMS  IN  1766-1774.  17 

is  somewhat  like  him,  though  Penniman  has  more  of  the  grave  so- 
lemnity in  his  behavior  than  the  other.  The  picture  of  Governor 
Endicott,  &c.  in  the  council  chamber,  is  of  this  sort ;  they  are  puri- 
tanical faces. 

At  this  court  I  also  saw  a  young  gentleman  lately  sworn  in  the 
inferior  court,  whose  name  is  Samuel  Porter  ;*  he  lived  with  Mr. 
Farnham,  took  his  second  degree  last  year,  and  lives  at  Ipswich. 
Thus  every  county  of  the  Province  swarms  with  pupils,  and  students, 
and  young  practitioners  of  law. 

Nov.  5.  Wednesday.  Attended  court;  heard  the  trial  of  an  action 
of  trespass,  brought  by  a  mulatto  woman,  for  damages,  for  restrain- 
ing her  of  her  liberty.  This  is  called  suing  for  liberty;  the  first  ac- 
tion that  ever  I  knew  of  the  sort,  though  I  have  heard  there  have 
been  many.  Heard  another  action  for  assault  and  battery,  of  a 
mariner,  by  the  master  of  a  vessel ;  a  little  fellow  was  produced  as 
a  witness  who  is  a  Spaniard;  speaks  intelligible  English;  black  eyes, 
thin  sharp  features ;  has  been  among  the  English  three  or  four  years. 
Here  I  saw  Nathaniel  Peaslee  Sargent,  of  Methuen,f  two  years  an 
attorney  of  superior  court,  now  commencing  a  barrister.  He  took 
his  degree  the  year  I  entered  college ;  he  has  the  character  of  sense, 
ingenuity,  &c,  but  not  of  fluency;  he  is  a  stout  man,  not  genteel 
nor  sprightly.  This  is  the  gentleman  whom  Thacher  recommended 
for  a  justice,  and  admired  for  his  correctness  and  conciseness,  as  an- 
other Father  Read.  Here  I  found  the  famous  Joseph  Eaton,  at  law 
as  usual.  I  knew  him  when  I  lived  at  Worcester,  where  he  had  a 
suit,  I  believe,  every  court  while  I  lived  there.  He  now  lives  at  Lynn 
End,  on  the  borders  between  Essex  and  Middlesex.  This  is  one  of  the 
stirring  instruments  that  Goffe  has  patronized  and  encouraged  for 
many  years.  I  remember  to  have  heard  Goffe  celebrate  him  for  self- 
government,  for  a  cool,  steady  command  of  his  passions,  and  for  firm- 
ness of  mind,  &c.  Eaton  is  now  at  law  with  the  Harts,  whose  char- 
acters are  as  curious  as  his  and  more  so.     This  Eaton,  Goffe  set  up,  as 

♦Afterwards  of  Salem  and  a  Loyalist  who  died  in  London  in  1798.  It  is  said 
that  he  indicated  to  Lieut-Colonel  Leslie,  which  street  he  should  Lake  on  reaching 
Salem,  Feb.  20,  1775,  while  on  the  way  to  the  North  Bridge. 

fAfterwards  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts.  He  died 
in  1791. 


18  .  JOHN  ADAMS  IN  1766-1774. 

Pynchon  tells  me,  to  be  a  justice,  but  Thacher  got  him  indicted  in  the 
county  of  Essex  for  a  barrator,  which  defeated  the  scheme  of  Goffe,  and 
he  came  near  conviction.  Goffe  grew  warm,  and  said  that  Eaton's 
character  was  as  good  as  any  man's  at  the  bar.  Spent  the  evening 
at  Mr.  Pynchons,  with  Farnham,  Sewall,  Sargent,  Colonel  Saltonstall, 
&c.  very  agreeably.  Punch,  wine,  bread  and  cheese,  apples,  pipes 
and  tobacco.  Pope9  and  bonfires*  this  evening  at  Salem,  and  a 
swarm  of  tumultuous  people  attending  them. 

Nov.  6.  Thursday.  A  fine  morning;  oated  at  Martin's,  where  we 
saw  five  boxes  of  dollars,  containing,  as  we  were  told,  about  eighteen 
thousand  of  them,  going  in  a  horse-cart  from  Salem  custom-house  to 
Boston,  in  order  to  be  shipped  for  England.  A  guard  of  armed  men, 
with  swords,  hangers,  pistols,  and  muskets,  attended  it.  We  dined 
at  Dr.  Tuft's  in  Medford. 

June  29,  1770.  Began  my  journey  to  Falmouth  in  Casco  Bay. 
Baited  my  horse  at  Martin's  in  Lynn,  where  I  saw  T.  Fletcher  and 
his  wife,  &c.  Dined  at  Goodhue's,  in  Salem,  where  I  fell  in  company 
with  a  stranger,  his  name  I  knew  not;  he  made  a  genteel  appear- 
ance, was  in  a  chair  himself  with  a  negro  servant ;  seemed  to  have 
a  general  knowledge  of  American  affairs;  said  he  had  been  a  mer- 
chant in  London ;  had  been  at  Maryland,  Philadelphia,  New  York, 
&c.  One  year  more,  he  said,  would  make  Americans  as  quiet  as 
lambs;  they  could  not  do  without  Great  Britain,  they  could  not  con- 
quer their  luxury,  &c;  Oated  my  horse,  and  drank  balm  tea  at 
Treadwelfs  in  Ipswich,  where  I  found  Brother  Porter,  and  chatted 
with  him  half  an  hour,  then  rode  to  Rowley,  and  lodged  at  Captain 
Jewett's.  Jewett  "had  rather  the  House  should  sit  all  the  year  round, 
than  give  up  an  atom  of  right  or  privilege.  The  Governor  can't 
frighten  the  people  with,  &c." 

June  30.  Saturday.  Arose  not  very  early,  and  drank  a  pint  of 
new  milk,  and  set  off;  oated  my  horse  at  Newbury,  rode  to  Clark's, 
at  Greenland  meeting-house,  where  I  gave  him  hay  and  oats,  and 
then  set  off  for  Newington;  turned  in  at  a  gate  by  Colonel  March's, 
and  passed  through  two  gates  more  before  I  came  into  the  road  that 

*Pope's  Night— the  celebration  of  the  anniversary  of  the  Gunpowder  Plot. 


joiin  adams  in  1766-1774.  19 

carried  me  to  my  uncle's.*  I  found  the  old  gentleman,  in  his  eighty- 
second  year,  as  hearty  and  alert  as  ever,  his  son  and  daughter  well, 
their  children  grown  up,  and  every  thing  strange  to  me.  I  find  I 
had  forgot  the  place;  it  is  seventeen  years,  I  presume,  since  I  was 
t,here.  My  reception  was  friendly,  cordial,  and  hospitable,  as  I  could 
wish;  took  a  cheerful,  agreeable  dinner,  and  then  set  off  for  York 
over  Bloody  Point  Ferry,  a  way  I  never  went  before,  and  arrived  at 
Woodbridge's  half  a  hour  after  sunset. 

I  forgot  yesterday  to  mention,  that  I  had  stopped  and  inquired  the 
name  of  a  pond  in  Wenham,  which  I  found  was  Wenham  Pond,  and 
also  the  name  of  a  remarkable  little  hill  at  the  mouth  of  the  pond, 
which  resembles  a  high  loaf  of  our  country  brown  bread,  and  found 
that  it  is  called  Peters'  Hill  to  this  day  from  the  famous  Hugh  Peters, 
who  about  the  year  1640  or  before  preached  from  the  top  of  that 
hillock  to  the  people  who  congregated  round  the  sides  of  it  without 
any  shelter  for  the  hearers,  before  any  buildings  were  erected  for 
public  worship. 

June  17,  1771.  Monday.  Set  out  upon  the  eastern  circuit.  Stopped 
at  Boston,  at  my  office,  and  nowhere  else.  Came  over  Charles- 
town  ferry  and  Penny  ferry,  and  dined  at  Kettel's,  in  Maiden,  by  the 
meeting-house.  Kettel  is  a  deputy  sheriff ;  the  meeting-house  is  Mr.  J. 
Thatcher's.  I  mounted  my  horse  and  rode  to  Boston,  in  a  cloth  coat 
and  waistcoat,  but  was  much  pinched  with  a  cold,  raw,  harsh,  north- 
east wind.  At  Boston,  I  put  on  a  thick  flannel  shirt,  and  that  made 
me  comfortable,  and  no  more  ;  so  cold  am  I,  or  so  cold  is  the  weather, 
— 17th  June.  Overtook  Judge  Cushing  in  his  old  curricle  and  two 
lean  horses,  and  Dick,  his  negro,  at  his  right  hand,  driving  the  cur- 
ricle. This  is  the  way  of  travelling  in  1771 ; — a  judge  of  the  circuits, 
a  judge  of  the  superior  court,  a  judge  of  the  King's  bench,  common 
pleas,  and  exchequer  for  the  Province,  travels  with  a  pair  of  wretched 
old  jades  of  horses  in  a  wretched  old  dung-cart  of  a  curricle,  and  a 
negro  on  the  same  seat  with  him  driving.  But  we  shall  have  more 
glorious  times  anon,  when  the  sterling  salaries  are  ordered  out  of  the 

♦Rev.  Joseph  Adams,  minister  of  that  town.  He  had  been  a  great  admirer  of 
Doctor  Mather  and  was  said  to  affect  an  imitation  of  his  voice,  pronunciation, 
and  manner  in  the  pulpit. 


20  JOHN  ADAMS  IN  1766-1774. 

revenue,  to  the  judges,  &c.  as  many  most  ardently  wish,  and  the 
judges  themselves,  among  the  rest,  I  suppose.  Stopped  at  Martin's 
in  Lynn,  with  Judge  Cushing;  oated  and  drank  a  glass  of  wine,  and 
heard  him  sigh  and  groan  the  sighs  and  groans  of  seventy-seven, 
though  he  kept  active.  He  conversed  in  his  usual,  hinting,  insinuat- 
ing, doubting,  scrupling  strain. 

Rode  with  King,  a  deputy  sheriff,  who  came  out  to  meet  the  judges, 
into  Salem;  pu*-  up  at  Goodhue's.  The  negro  that  took  my  horse 
soon  began  to  \  pen  his  heart ; — he  did  not  like  the  people  of  Salem ; 
wanted  to  be  sold  to  Captain  John  Dean,  of  Boston ;  he  earned  two 
dollars  in  a  forenoon,  and  did  all  he  could  to  give  satisfaction,  but 
his  mistress  was  cross,  and  said  he  did  not  earn  salt  to  his  porridge, 
&c.  and  would  not  find  him  clothes,  &c.  Thus  I  find  discontents  in 
all  men;— the  black  thinks  his  merit  rewarded  with  ingratitude,  and 
so  does  the  white;  the  black  estimates  his  own  worth  and  the  merit 
of  his  services  higher  than  anybody  else,  so  does  the  white.  This 
flattering,  fond  opinion  of  himself,  is  found  in  every  man,  I  have 
hurt  myself  today,  by  taking  cold  in  the  forenoon,  and  by  drinking 
to  much  wine  at  Kettel's,  and  at  Martins.  I  drank  half  a  pint  at 
Kettel's,  and  two  glasses  at  Martin's. 

Just  after  I  had  drank  tea  and  got  my  fire  made  in  my  chamber, 
my  old  neighbor,  Jo.  Barrell,  came  and  lodged  at  Goodhue's  in  the 
same  chamber  with  me.  His  grief  is  intense  indeed.  He  spent  the 
whole  evening  and  a  long  time  after  we  got  to  bed,  in  lamenting  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  in  enumerating  her  excellencies,  &c. ;  heartily  wishes 
himself  with  her ;  would  have  been  very  glad  to  have  gone  with  her. 
He  married  from  pure  regard,  utterly  against  the  will  of  his  mother 
and  all  his  friends,  because  she  was  poor ;  but  she  made  him  happy. 
She  was  the  best  of  women ;  the  world  has  lost  all  its  charms  to  him. 
She  beckoned  to  me  but  a  few  minutes  before  she  died,  when  her 
hands  were  as  cold  as  clods.  She  whispered  to  me,  "I  love  you  now ; 
if  I  could  but  carry  you  and  the  children  with  me,  I  should  go  re- 
joicing." In  this  eloquent  strain  of  grief  did  he  run  on.  Millions  of 
thoughts  did  this  conversation  occasion  me.  I  thought  I  should  have 
had  no  sleep  all  night;  however,  I  got  to  sleep  and  slept  well. 

June  18.     Tuesday.     Rode  with  Mr.  Barrell   to  Ipswich,  and   put 


JOHN  ADAMS  IN  1766-1774.  21 

up  at  Treadwell's.  Every  object  recalls  the  subject  of  grief.  Barrell, ' 
all  the  way  to  Ipswich,  was  like  the  turtle  bemoaning  the  loss  of  his 
mate.  "Fine  season  and  beautiful  scenes,  but  they  did  not  charm 
him  as  they  used  to.  He  had  often  rode  this  way  a  courting  with 
infinite  pleasure,"  &c.  "I  can't  realize  that  she  has  left  me  forever. 
When  she  was  well,  I  often  thought  I  could  realize  the  loss  of  her, 
but  I  was  mistaken ;  I  had  no  idea  of  it."  In  short,  this  man's  mourn- 
ings have  melted  and  softened  me  beyond  measure. 

June  22.  Saturday.  Spent  this  week  at  Ipswich,  in  the  usual 
labors  and  drudgery  of  attendance  upon  court.  Boarded  at  Tread- 
well's  ;  have  had  no  time  to  write.  Landlord  and  landlady  are  some 
of  the  grandest  people  alive;  landlady  is  the  great  grand-daughter 
of  Governor  Endicott,  and  has  all  the  great  notions  of  high  family 
that  you  find  in  Winslows,  Hutchinsons,  Quincys,  Saltonstalls,  Chand- 
lers, Leonards,  Otises,  and  as  you  might  find  with  more  propriety  in 
the  Winthrops.  Yet  she  is  cautious  and  modest  about  discovering 
it.  She  is  a  new  light;  continually  canting  and  whining  in  a  religious 
strain.  The  Governor  was  uncommonly  strict  and  devout,  eminently 
so  in  his  day ;  and  his  great,  great  grand-daughter  hopes  to  keep  up 
the  honor  of  the  family  in  hers,  and  distinguish  herself  among  her 
contemporaries  as  much. 

'Terrible  things  sin  causes,"  sighs  and  groans,  "the  pangs  of  the 
new  birth.  The  death  of  Christ  shows  above  all  things  the  heinous 
nature  of  sin !  How  awfully  Mr.  Kent  talks  about  death !  How 
lightly  and  carelessly !  I  am  sure  a  man  of  his  years,  who  can  talk 
so  about  death,  must  be  brought  to  feel  the  pangs  of  the  new  birth 
here,  or  made  to  repent  of  it  forever.  How  dreadful  it  seems  to  me 
to  hear  him,  I  that  am  so  afraid  of  death,  and  so  concerned  lest  I 
an't  fit  and  prepared  for  it!  What  a  dreadful  thing  it  was  that  Mr. 
Gridley  died  so! — too  great,  too  big,  too  proud  to  learn  any  thing; 
would  not  let  any  minister  pray  with  him ;  said  he  knew  more  than  they 
could  tell  him;  asked  the  news,  and  said  he  was  going  where  he 
should  hear  no  news,"  &c. 

Thus  far,  landlady.  As  to  landlord,  he  is  as  happy,  and  as  big,  as 
proud,  as  conceited  as  any  nobleman  in  England ;  always  calm  and 
good-natured  and  lazy;  but  the  contemplation  of  his  farm  and  his 


22  JOHN  ADAMS  IN  1766-1774, 

sons-and  his  house  and  pasture  and  cows,  his  sound  judgment,  as  he 
thinks,  and  his  great  holiness,  as  well  as  that  of  his  wife,  keep  him 
as  erect  in  his  thoughts  as  a  noble  or  a  prince.  Indeed,  the  more  I 
consider  of  mankind,  the  more  I  see  that  every  man  seriously  ar.d  in 
his  conscience  believes  himself  the  wisest,  brightest,  best,  happiest, 
&c.  of  all  mankind.     ... 

June  23.  Sunday.  In  the  morning  my  horse  was  gone.  Went  to 
meeting  all  day,  and  heard  old  Mr.  Rogers,  a  good  well-meaning 
man,  I  believe.  After  meeting  rode  to  Newbury  and  visited  Brother 
Lowell,  Brother  Farnham,  and  then  went  and  supped  with  Mr.  Jon- 
athan Jackson  in  company  with  Captain  Tracy,  Mr.  Hooper,  Mr. 
Williams,  Mr.  Frazier,  and  Brother  Lowell;  then  went  and  lodged 
with  Lowell. 

5f»        _•  Jf*  *         JfC  S)S  ■    S|fi  SJC  SfS  Sp 

Nov.  9,  1771.  Saturday.  At  Salem  all  this  week,  at  court.  Dined 
one  day  at  Chief  Justice  Lynde's,  all  the  rest  of  the  week  till  this  day 
with  the  court.  Dined  this  day,  spent  the  afternoon,  and  drank  tea, 
at  Judge  Ropes's,  with  Judges  Lynde,  Oliver  and  Hutchinson,  Sewall 
Putnam  and  Winthrop.  Mrs.  Ropes  is  a  fine  woman,  very  pretty 
and  genteel.  Our  Judge  Oliver  is  the  best  bred  gentleman  of  all 
the  judges  by  far;  there  is  something  in  every  one  of  the  others  in- 
decent and  disagreeable  at  times  in  company — affected  witticisms, 
unpolished  fleers,  coarse  jests,  and  sometimes,  rough,  rude  attacks; 
— but  these  you  don't  see  escape  Judge  Oliver.  Drank  tea  at  Judge 
Ropes',  spent  the  evening  at  Colonel  Pickmans.  He  is  very  spright- 
ly, sensible,  and  entertaining,  talks  a  great  deal,  .tells  old  stories  in 
abundance  about  the  witchcraft,  paper  money,  Governor  Belcher's 
administration,  &c. 

Nov.  10.  Sunday.  Heard  Mr.  Cutler  of  Ipswich  Hamlet ;  dined 
at  Dr.  Putnam's,  with  Colonel   Putnam   and   lady,  and  two   young 

gentlemen,  nephews  of  the  Doctor,   and  Colonel ,  and  a   Mrs. 

Scollay. 

Mar.  28.  1774,  Monday.  Rode  with  brother  Josiah  Quincy  to 
Ipswich  Court.  Arrived  at  Piemont's,  in  Danvers,  in  good  order  and 
well  conditioned.     Spent  the  evening,  and  lodged  agreeably.     Walked 


JOHN  ADAMS  IN  1766-1774.  23 

out  in  the  morning  to  hear  the  birds  sing.  Piemont*  says  there  is  a 
report  that  the  Sons  of  Liberty  have  received  some  advices  from 
England,  which  makes  them  look  down;  that  they  have  received  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Bollan,  that  they  must  submit;  and  others  letters 
which  they  kept  secret. 

Mar.  29.  Tuesday.  Rode  to  Ipswich,  and  put  up  at  the  old  place, 
Treadwelfs.  The  old  lady  has  got  a  new  copy  of  her  great  grand- 
father Governor  Endicott's  picture  hung  up  in  the  house. 

The  old  gentleman  is  afraid  they  will  repeal  the  excise  upon  tea, 
and  then  that  we  shall  have  it  plenty  ;  wishes  they  would  double  the 
duty,  and  then  we  should  never  have  any  more.  The  question  is, 
Who  is  to  succeed  Judge  Ropes  ?f  Whether  Brown,  or  Pynchon,  or 
Lee,  or  Hatch  ?  The  bar  here  are  explicit  against  the  two  last  as 
unfit.  Lowell  says  Pynchon  would  take  it,  because  he  wants  to 
make  way  for  Wetmore,  who  is  "about  marrying  his  daughter.  Pyn- 
chon says  Judge  Ropes  was  exceedingly  agitated,  all  the  time  of  his 
last  sickness,  about  the  public  affairs  in  general,  and  those  of  the 
superior  court  in  particular ;  afraid  his  renunciation  would  be  at- 
tributed to  timidity ;  afraid  to  refuse  to  renounce ;  worried  about 
the  opinion  of  the  bar,  &c.  Mr.  Farnham  is  exceedingly  mollified  ; 
is  grown  quite  modest  and  polite,  in  comparison  with  what  he  used 
to  be,  in  politics.  Lowell  is  so,  too ;  seems  inclined  to  be  admitted 
among  the  liberty  men. 

*He  came  to  Danvers  from  Boston  and  in  1784  was  keeping  a  tavern  in  Ipswich. 
In  1775  he  was  accused  of  being  a  tory  but  his  good  character  was  certified  by 
citizens  of  Danvers. 

tJudge  Nathaniel  Ropes,  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  a  firm  loyalist,  who  lived 
in  Salem.  He  died  of  small  pox  and  while  lying  near  to  death  his  house  was  at- 
tacked by  a  mob  and  many  windows  were  broken  and  the  premises  defaced. 


SIMEON  BALDWIN. IN  1784. 

WHILE  a.  tutor  at  Yale  College,  Simeon  Baldwin  made  a  tour 
of  the  New  England  coast  towns  during  which  he  kept  a 
diary  preserving  some  account  of  his  observations.  He  was 
a  Member  of  Congress  in  1803-1805,  the  next  year  becoming  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Connecticut.  In  1826  he  was  Mayor  of  New 
Haven.  His  dairy  and  other  papers  have  been  published  by  Gov. 
Simeon  E.  Baldwin  under  the  following  title — Life  and  Letters  of 
Simeon  Baldwin,  New  Llaven  [1919.] 

Oct.  7,  1784.  .  .  .  Waited  on  the  President,*  gave  him  my 
Letter  from  Mr  Clark — took  some  from  him  to  Portsmouth — &  tar- 
ried but  a  few  minutes,  took  our  leave  of  the  Circle — &  dined  among 
the  rocks  &  shoemaker  shops  of  Lyn — went  into  one  of  the  shops  (of 
which  there  are  150)  to  see  ye  manufactory — were  informed  that 
Medford  or  Mystic,  a  pretty  Town  a  little  back  was  equally  famous 
for  a  manufactory  of  brick — much  of  their  common  wall  was  made 
of  them.  After  dinner  &  paying  extravagantly  for  it  we  travelled 
thro'  several  little  settlements  tho'  little  good  Land,  till  we  came  to 
Marblehead  a  town  of  about  4  or  500  houses  on  the  sure  foundation 
of  a  rock — they  are  famous  for  the  curing  of  Cod.  The  people  are 
savage  in  their  nature  &  education — are  very  poor  in  general — amaz- 
ingly prolific  &  exceed  all  places  in  the  habit  of  begging,  one  can 
hardly  ride  thro'  the  Town  without  being  accosted  in  that  way  by 
one  half  of  the  old  women  &  children  in  it.  We  viewed  the  crates 
got  what  information  we  could  &  rode  round  to  Salem — put  our 
horses  &  lodged  at  Col  Bacons,  after  delivering  our  Letters  & 
suping  with  Mr  [Henry]  Gibbs — he  is  a  very  kind  hospitable  man : 
says  not  a  great  deal,  but  appears  clever — Mrs  Gibs  answers  the 
same  description.  She  does  not  half  so  much  resemble  the  Prescot 
family,  at  N  Haven  as  her  sister  Goodoo,t  she  was  present — I  gave 
her  the  Letter  &  drank  to  her  as   Mrs  Gibs,  the  mistake  turned  the 

*Rev.  Joseph  Willard,  D.  D.     President  of  Harvard  College. 
|The  wife  of  Stephen  Goodhue. 

(24) 


SIMEON   BALDWIN   IN    1784.  25 

Laugh  on  me  &c —  Friday,  Oct.  8.  Took  my  morning  walk  as  usual 
to  see  the  place — found  the  streets  a  little  irregular  but  the  buildings 
many  of  them  very  good,  &  the  number,  but  a  little  short  of  those  in 
Newport — business  was  lively  &  good  deal  done  there — took  breakfast 
at  Mr  Gibs — delivered  a  Letter  to  Miss  Peggy  McKey  a  plain,  good  girl 
— &  another  introductory  to  Mr  Whetmore  a  Lawyer — promised  to 
call  on  him  again.  Left  the  Town  in  company  with  Mr  Law —  soon 
pass'd  the  ferry  to  Beverly  a  place  far  exceeding  my  expectation ; 
in  short  I  never  had  a  just  idea  of  the  population  of  this  country1 — 
every  three  or  4  miles  a  meeting-house  would  present  itself — we 
dined  at  Mr.  Dana's  a  very  good  minister  of  Ipswich,  the  Rev'd  Mr 
Frysby  came  there  to  see  us,  and  we  must  call  on  both  on  our  return 
— our  next  stop  was  for  a  few  minutes  at  Mr  Bradfords  &  then  a 
variety  of  merry  chit-chat  &  friendly  Disputes  interspersed  the  variety 
of  Landscips  in  our  rapid  progress  to  Newbury  &  port,  where  we 
slept  after  delivering  a  Letter  to  a  very  pretty  Miss  Parsons,  with 
whom  &  her  papa  we  spent  most  of  ye  Evening1 — Mr  King  to  whom 
we  had  Letters  was  abse.nt-r-we- returned  to  the  Tavern  without 
much  new  acquaintance. 

Saturday,  Oct.  9.  Breakfasted  soon  after  rising — had  an  invita- 
tion soon  after  to  breakfast  with  Mr  [Samuel]  Spring  the  clergyman 
— I  went  to  his  house  but  on  my  way  was  introduced  to  Mr  Mycall 
the  printer — went  into  his  book  store — found  a  very  good  collection 
of  5  or  6  hundred  Vollumns — took  half  a  second  breakfast  at  Mr 
Springs:  Found  him  &  his  wife  both  very  agreeable — engaged  to 
dine  with  them  on  Monday — took  leave  &  rode  to  Almsbury — call'd 
on  a  Mr  Bell,  who  was  to  be  setled  there  the  next  week — could  not 
get  away  'till  after  diner — was  entertained  with  great  exuberance 
of  his  oddities — found  fine  road  thro  [Hampton]  to  our  last  stage  at 
Portsmouth. 

Monday,  Oct.  11,  1784.  After  viewing  the  greater  part  of  the 
Town  in  company  with  young  Mr  Langdon — we  took  breakfast  at 
Esq.  Hale's  &  about  9  o'clock  were  on  our  horses  for  Salem — Ports- 
mouth is  a  Town  of  about  700  Houses  not  equal  to  Salem — is  pretty 


26  SIMEON  BALDWIN  IN   1784. 

well  laid  out  in  squares — the  Harbour  exceeding  good — their  wealth 
is  in  the  lumber  trade — with  share  in  the  fishery.  We  made  but  few 
stages,  &  nothing  particular  in  the  soil  or  prospect  was  inviting — till 
we  came  to  Newburyport ;  this  is  a  place  of  great  Trade,  particularly 
in  fish,  vessels  &  Lumber — the  Town  is  pretty  regular,  perhaps  in- 
cluding Newbury  about  600  Houses — we  dined  at  Mr.  Springs,  was 
exceedingly  pleased  in  the  acquisition  of  having  him  &  his  wife 
among  the  Circle  of  my  acquaintance — took  letters  from  Miss  Hannah 
Parsons  &  the  charge  of  a  performance  of  her  Papa's — in  which  I 
had  a  specimen  of  a  man  riding  his  Hobby — Mr  Frysby  was  not  at 
home  &  we  excused  ourselves  without  tarrying  at  Mr  Dana's.  Were 
so  belated  in  the  Hamlet  of  Ipswich  that  we  put  up  for  the.  night — 
although  we  depended  on  arriving  at  Salem — Mr  Cutler*  was  so 
busy  in  some  unavoidable  matters  that  we  could  not  spend  time  with 
him  till  the  next  morning  when  we  breakfasted  with  him.  He  gave 
us  a  variety  of  entertainment,  particularly  an  account  of  his  tour  to 
the  White  Mountains.  He  accompanied  us  to  Beverly  and  took  leave 
with  much  politeness. 

Tuesday,  Oct.  12.  Cross'd  the  ferry  about  11  o'clock.  Mr  Whet- 
more  was  out  of  Town.  Mr  Hopkins  to  whom  by  his  previous  desire 
we  introduced  ourselves  invited  us  to  dine.  We  paid  our  respects  & 
deliver'd  our  Letter  to  Mr  Bentley  &  except  his  importunity  (in  which 
he  succeeded)  to  make  us  tarry,  I  have  not  found  a  more  agreeable 
acquaintance.  After  calling  on  Mr.  Gibs  &  making  my  excuses  for 
not  being  there  the  last  night,  I  took  their  &  Miss  MacKey's  Letters 
&  mounted  for  Cambridge  about  4  o'clock.  Night  overtook  us  &  we 
lost  our  Road  but  were  in  College  in  about  3  &  1/2  hours. 

♦Rev.  Manasseh  Cutler. 


LUIGI  CASTIGLIONI  IN  1785. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  information  in  relation  to  this  Italian  visitor 
is  lacking  in  all  the  dictionaries.  He  arrived  at  Boston  in  1785 
and  after  visiting  the  Province  of  Maine  journeyed  through  New 
Hampshire,  Vermont,  New  York  and  into  the  Southern  States.  He 
gave  special  attention  to  the  botanical  novelties  of  the  country  and 
viewed  it  with  the  keen  eyes  of  a  naturalist  rather  than  those  of  a 
political  observer.  His  notes  upon  manners  and  customs  are  varied 
and  of  unusual  interest.  A  long  chapter  is  devoted  to  the  Penobscot 
Indians.  A  New  England  salt  fish  dinner,  with  shell  barks  and  cider, 
he  found  most  indigestible.  His  travels  were  published  in  two  vol- 
umes under  the  following  title  :  Viaggio  negli  StatiUniti  dell  America 
Settentrionalefattoneglil785,  1786,  e  1787,  Milano,  1792.  The  fol- 
lowing English  translation  of  the  portion  relating  to  Essex  County 
has  been  made  by  George  Andrews  Moriarty,  Esq.,  of  Boston.  The 
first  volume  also  was  published  in  a  German  translation  in  1793  at 
Mommingen. 

Although,  upon  my  return  to  Boston  I  should  have  left  at  once  to 
make  my  trip  in  the  Eastern  section  of  Massachusetts,  the  agreeable 
society  of  Boston  and  their  kindly  insistance  detained  me  some  days 
in  that  city,  and  I  finally  left  on  June  22  [1785]  for  Salem.  The  road 
thither  is  very  beautiful  and  in  some  places  very  wide.  I  passed 
through  Medford,  a  charming  little  village  near  Charlestown,  and 
through  Lynn  another  village  which,  situated  at  the  foot  of  a  hill 
covered  with  red  cedars,  enjoys  a  view  over  a  little  bay  that  lies  in 
front  of  it  and  of  the  sinuous  course  of  the  Lynn  river  which  here 
empties  into  the  sea.  Salem,  the  capital  of  Essex  County,  one  of  the 
oldest  towns  of  Massachusetts,  is  situated  near  the  sea,  and  has  a 
harbor  into  which  only  small  ships  can  enter.  The  houses  are  for 
the  most  part  constructed  of  wood  and  are  of  good  appearance  and 
there  are  some  made  of  brick.  The  churches  are  chiefly  Presbyter- 
ian with  an  Anglican  church  and  a  Quaker,  meeting.     The  town  is 

(27) 


28  LUIGI   CASTIGLIONI   IN   1785. 

said  to  have  a  population  of  eight  thousand  people,  which  gives  it 
the  right  to  send  four  representatives  to  the  State  Legislature.  Its 
principal  trade  is  in  dried  cod,  of  which  they  export  annually  20  or 
30  thousand  casks.*  This  fish  which  as  I  have  before  observed  is 
found  most  abundantly  on  the  Newfoundland  banks  is  prepared 
when  taken  in  the  following  manner.  As  soon  as  a  fish  is  caught  it 
is  split  lengthwise  and  is  immediately  placed  in  different  piles  in  the 
ship,  after  each  layer  of  fish  has  been  carefully  covered  with  a 
layer  of  salt.  They  are  left  in  this  way  until  the  ship  arrives  at 
Salem  when  they  remove  the  fish  from  the  piles,  wash  them  in  sea 
water,  and  then  expose  them  for  eight  consecutive  days  to  the  sun 
upon  a  scaffolding  made  for  such  purpose,  taking  care  to  turn  them 
each  day  so  that  they  may  be  equally  dried  in  all  parts  and  taking  them 
in  at  night.  After  eight  days  they  pile  them  up  again  in  the  house 
leaving  them  there  about  one  month  after  which  they  once  more  ex- 
pose them  to  the  sun  to  thoroughly  dry  them.  When  entirely  cured 
they  are  placed  in  casks,  in  which  they  compress  them  with  a  presser, 
and  then  put  them  on  board  ship.  The  best  fish  are  taken  in  the 
Autumn  or  Spring  while  those  taken  in  the  Summer  are  of  a  very 
inferior  quality.  They  are  then  carried  to  the  Antilles  where  they 
are  used  to  feed  the  negroes. 

On  leaving  Salem  I  passed  over  a  small  area  of  the  sea  that  divides 
Salem  from  Beverly  and  arrived  at  Ipswich  Hamlet  where  I  passed  the 
night  with  Mr.  Cutler,  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  his 
leisure  hours  he  devotes  himself  to  the  study  of  botany  in  which  he 
has  made  rapid  progress  in  a  short  time.  I  cannot  express  the 
pleasure  I  had  in  finding  in  America  a  person  who  occupied  himself 
with  so  much  intelligence  in  the  humane  study  of  natural  history 
and  the  following  morning  we  made  a  short  trip  on  foot  into  the 
country  where  we  gathered  various  curious  plants  that  I  had  not 
previously  observed. 

On  this  occasion  we  saw  various  squirrels  that  are  very  common 
all  over  Massachusetts,  and  of  which  there  are  three  different  species. 
The  largest  is  the  gray  squirrel  which  is  sometimes  as  large  as  a  cat. 

*In  the  last  year  (1784)  they  exported  28,000  casks.  Each  cask  weighs  112 
English  pounds. 


LUIGI  CASTIGLIONI   IN   1785.  29 

They  do  great  damage  to  the  fields  of  Indian  corn  when  the  ears 
open  and  they  eat  the  sweet  and  tender  grains.  Accordingly  in  some 
places  the  inhabitants  are  obliged  to  hunt  them  every  four  years  and 
to  carry  the  head  to  a  chosen  person*  and  in  others  they  pay  from 
the  public  treasury  two  pence  for  every  squirrel  killed.  They  kill 
these  in  the  trees  with  shot  guns,  or  take  them  with  snares  and  traps 
and  easily  domesticate  them  keeping  them  in  the  houses  bound  with 
a  light  chain  as  pets  for  the  children.  They  also  eat  the  meat  which 
is  fat  and  of  a  delicate  flavor,  and  the  skins  are  sold  at  a  low  price. 

Much  smaller  than  the  preceeding  is  the  chipmunk,  that  is  not 
larger  than  a  rat.  This  is  called  in  English  the  striped  squirrel  be- 
cause it  has  two  large  white  stripes  running  along  its  back.  These 
are  very  abundant  in  the  United  States  and  one  sees  them  scurrying 
rapidly  away  to  the  rocks  that  form  their  shelter.  Their  skins  are 
much  esteemed  for  the  beautiful  contrast  that  the  two  white  stripes 
make  with  the  dark  tobacco  color  of  the  rest  of  their  bodies  and  they 
are  used  to  make  mantles  and  tippets  for  ladies  just  as  they  use 
rarer  furs.  The  flying  squirrel  is  as  common  in  America  as  in  North- 
ern Europe  and  is  smaller  than  the  chip-munk  and  has  the  power  of 
sustaining  itself  in  the  air  in  leaping  from  one  tree  to  another  by 
means  of  a  skin  that  stretches  from  its  front  to  its  hind  legs.  A 
female  was  given  to  me  in  Boston  by  Doctor  Clarke  one  inch  from 
its  nose  to  the  commencement  of  its  tail,  which  was  four  inches  long, 
flat  with  round  figure,  and  extending  about  an  inch  in  width.  The 
skin  of  the  back  was  in  color  a  gray  brown,  and  that  of  the  stomach 
white  and  the  skin  that  extended  from  both  sides  of  the  body,  and 
scarcely  discernable  when  the  animal  stands  still,  was  furnished  with 
still  longer  fur.  This  squirrel  is  also  easily  domesticated  and  their 
skins  are  common  and  of  small  value. 

From  Ipswich  to  Newbury-Port  their  are  fifteen  miles  of  very 
beautiful  road  running  through  pleasant  country  with  cultivated 
fields.  Newbury-Port  is  quite  a  large  town  situated  in  a  valley  of 
the  Merrimack  river  three  miles  above  the  point  where  it  empties  into 

*In  1741  the  General  Court  passed  an  Act  to  prevent  damage  to  Indian  corn 
and  other  grain.  Selectmen  were  to  allow  four  pence  for  each  squirrel's  head,  six 
pence  for  crows  and  three  shillings  a  dozen  for  blackbirds.  They  were  directed 
to  cut  off  the  ears  of  the  squirrels  and  the  beaks  of  the  birds. 


30  LUIGI  CASTIGLIONI   IN   1785. 

the  sea.  This  river,  which  is  more  than  a  mile  wide,  is  navigable  for 
vessels  for  eighteen  miles  from  its  mouth  and  for  boats  for  more  than 
fifty,  wood  being  brought  to  the  city  by  means  of  floats  from  a  hun- 
dred miles  away.  Newbury-Port  has  about  three  thousand  inhabi- 
tants and  is  built  partly  of  wood  and  partly  of  brick  and  has  the  ad- 
vantage of  very  pleasant  surroundings.  Its  principal  trade  is  in  salt 
fish  and  timber  which  they  export  to  the  West  Indies  and  they  bring 
back  in  exchange  molasses,  that  is  here  distilled  into  rum  and  aqua- 
vite.  The  26th  I  remained  here  being  obliged  to  delay  my  trip  by 
an  ancient  law,  which  prohibits  traveling  on  Sunday.  The  obser- 
vance of  the  Sabbath  being  one  of  the  precepts  most  strongly  taught 
by  the  Protestant  religion  and  particularly  by  the  Presbyterians;  it 
being  forbidden  on  that  day  not  only  to  indulge  in  play  or  music  and 
in  any  kind  of  amusement  for  passing  the  time,  but  even  to  travel 
and  in  church  time  to  walk  about.  Certain  persons  are  chosen  by 
the  people  called  Wardens  or  Guardians  who  patrol  the  streets  and 
arrest  any  one  disobeying  the  law ;  and  since  they  are  greatly  respect- 
ed on  account  of  their  office  they  impose  ordinarily  pecunary  fines 
on  the  transgressors,  obliging  those  who  wish  to  travel  on  Sunday  to 
set  forth  the  reason  why  they  must  do  so,  and  obliging  them  to  desist 
if  their  reasons  for  doing  do  not  seem  sufficient  to  them.  These  laws 
contrary  to  the  other  principles  of  liberty  and  toleration  now  established 
in  the  United  States  exist  only  in  the  states  of  Massachusetts,  New 
Hampshire,  Connecticut,  and  in  Rhode  Island,  where  Puritanism,  the 
most  fanatical  of  all  the  sects  established  in  America,  has  its  great 
strength.  Never  the  less  in  Boston,  and  even  in  other  cities  and  vil- 
lages, they  do  not  elect  the  Guardians  and  strangers  enjoy  a  perfect 
liberty. 

The  27th  I  crossed  the  Merrimack  river  and  continued  my  trip  to 
Salisbury  and  passed  the  boundary  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hamp- 
shire at  Hampton. 


REV.  WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN  1787-1799. 

THIS  Salem  clergyman  and  diarist  was  a  person  of  unusual  at- 
tainments whose  rare  benevolence,  ardent  patriotism,  origin- 
ality and  independence  of  character  made  him  a  marked  man 
in  his  generation.  In  years  to  come  he  will  be  best  know  by  his  in- 
valuable "Diary"  which  was  edited  by  the  writer  of  these  lines,  and 
published  in  four  volumes  in  Salem,  in  1905-1914.  It  may  be  com- 
pared in  vital  interest  and  historical  value  with  the  diaries  of  Sam- 
uel Sevvall  and  Samuel  Pepys;  but  it  also  possesses  an  individuality 
quite  its  own.  In  his  not  infrequent  journeys  about  the  country  he 
minutely  recorded  every  thing  of  interest  that  attracted  his  attention 
and  these  descriptions  are  here  reprinted  from  his  published  "Diary." 

Monday,  April  30,  1787.  I 'went  for  Newbury  in  a  chaise  with 
Lydia  Mason  &  arrived  at  Newburyport  at  12  o'clock.  I  put  up  at 
Capt  Noyes'  dined  with  him  &  spent  the  evening  with  Mr.  Murray. 
I  found  him  a  Scholar  &  a  Gentleman.  His  Lady  is  of  a  most  excel- 
lent person  rather  corpulent,  but  of  a  fine  countenance.  Tuesday  was 
the  Quarterly  Fast  at  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  rigid  doctrines 
of  the  Confession  were  preached  by  Mr  Murray  in  the  morning,  but 
rendered  tolerable  by  the  uncommon  eloquence  of  Mr.  M.  who  ex- 
ceeds in  delivery  all  his  contemporaries  of  New  E.  He  stands  low  & 
appears  to  speak  from  memory,  but  really  has  his  notes  before  him. 
In  prayer  he  lifts  the  hands  &  sometimes  applies  them  to  the  breast 
but  uses  no  other  gestures.  In  Sermon  he  is  not  in  the  least  affected 
in  his  manner,  he  triumphs  over  his  audience,  &  supports  attention 
for  three  hours.  In  the  afternoon  the  performances  by  a  Mr  Strong 
were  contemptible.  I  dined  on  Wednesday  with  Mr  Murray.  His 
affability  is  engaging.  He  is  agreeable  in  spite  of  his  doctrines.  I 
spent  Tuesday  evening  with  a  Master  Pike,  who  has  in  the  press  a 
Treatise  of  Arithmetic.  He  is  the  Master  of  the  Grammar  School, 
&  of  Cambridge  University.  I  was  also  Introduced  to  a  Master  Nor- 
ton in  the  South  Writing  School.  He  has  raised  himself  by  his  moral 
good  qualities,  &  his  attention  to  study  in  the  public  esteem.     Under- 

(31) 


32  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

stands  french  perfectly.  The  Printer  Mr  Mycall  gave  me  some  Types 
from  his  own  Foundery  which  did  him  honor.  Mr  Cary  the  Congre- 
gational minister  preached  on  Thursday  at  his  own  house.  A  pious 
and  rational  discourse.  He  is  a  man  of  wealth,  &  of  kind  manners, 
as  a  better  acquaintance  shews.  On  Friday  I  returned,  &  arrived  at 
Salem,  impressed  by  the  hospitality  of  the  Gentlemen,  whose  houses 
I  visited. 

Feb.  21,  1789.  I  went  for  Newbury.  The  roads  were  much  blocked 
by  large  drifts  of  Snow  which  fell  the  night  before,  &  in  other  places 
the  earth  was  left  uncovered.  After  stopping  at  Fairfield's  in  Wen- 
ham,  &  Treadwell's  in  Ipswich,  I  arrived  at  6  P.  M.  at  Mr  Jackson's. 
This  Gentleman  had  a  son  under  my  instruction  for  several  months. 
He  owns  a  very  large  and  elegant  Mansion  house  on  the  road  to 
Amesbury  from  N.  Port,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  At  present 
he  occupies  an  house  belonging  to  Mr  N.  Tracey  built  of  brick  in  the 
great  street  leading  to  the  ferry,  Town  Plouse,  &  first  Church.  I  was 
received  with  every  mark  of  attention.  Mrs  Jackson  is  a  second  wife 
with  a  large  family  of  very  amiable  children.  She  is  of  the  Tracey 
family,  &  her  father  Patrick  Tracey  then  lay  at  the  point  of  death. 
On  Sunday  Mr  J.  very  politely  waited  upon  me  to  the  Meeting  House, 
in  which  the  preachers  are  Messrs  Cary  .&  Andrews.  The  assembly 
is  the  best  in  the  Port,  including  the  best  families.  The  weather  was 
very  bad,  &  therefore  did  not  admit  a  general  attendance.  The  build- 
ing has  nothing  to  recommend  it.  In  the  evening  we  were  favored 
with  the  company  of  Master  Pike,  author  of  a  late  treatise  on  Arith- 
metic, Mr.  S.  Hooper,  Dr  Swett,  &c.  On  Monday  morning  I  waited 
upon  Dr  Swett  in  company  with  Mr  Jackson,  &  breakfasted.  Dr 
Swett  is  a  polite  scholar,  &  can  recommend  himself.  I  dined  with 
Revd  Cary.  This  Gent :  has  been  ordained  20  years,  but  is  taken 
from  his  public  labours  by  a  paralytic  stroke,  which  prevents  his  con- 
versation, but  has  not  otherwise  impaired  his  memory,  than  by  the  loss 
of  words,  which  he  recollects  by  counting  the  letters  upon  his  fingers, 
lie  has  strong  passions-  which  he  has  remarkably  governed.  This 
evening  I  drank  Tea  at  Mr  Pike's  who  teaches  the  Grammar  School, 
&  enjoyed  afterward   my  classmate   Kilham  at  Mr.   Jackson's.     On 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  33 

Tuesday  morning  I  breakfasted  with  Mr  S.  Hooper,  a  merchant  of 
the  place,  and  according  to  appointment  Mr  J.  introduced  me  to 
Mr  Carter  who  has  an  amiable  daughter.  As  I  wished  for  an  ac- 
quaintance there  was  a  favorable  opportunity,  for  Miss  C.  &  her 
Brother  intending  a  journey  to  Boston  on  the  upper  road,  it  agreed 
with  my  plan  of  a  return  home  to  accompany  them.  We  passed  by 
Mr  Noble's  meeting  house  on  the  right,  &  then  Mr  Kimball's,  &  after- 
ward, Mr  Tappan's  on  the  left,  upon  an  high  hill,  near  to  the  elegant 
Seat  of  Hon  :  Mr  Dalton,  &  the  farm  of  Mr  S.  .Hooper,  which  were 
on  our  right,  &  commanded  a  view  of  the  Port  &  of  the  Ocean.  We 
stopped  at  Bradford  &  delivered  Letters  from  Dr  Tucker  of  Newbury, 
one  of  the  best  characters  of  the  age,  to  a  celebrated  Mr  Balch,  whose 
good  sense  distinguished  him  in  his  ministerial  character  in  his  own 
generation,  &  makes  him  venerable  to  posterity.  He  is  above  80  years 
of  age,  &  has  been  past  his  public  labours  for  15  years.  His  wife  is 
blind,  &  deaf,  but  an  uncommon  share  of  chearfulness  falls  to  the 
good  man's  lot.  Mr  Dutch  his  colleague  was  at  the  house,  when  we 
visited.  We  then  went  for  the  Upper  Parish.  The  river  was  frozen 
&  there  was  an  excellent  path  from  Russel  ferry  to  Haverhill,  but  it 
being  near  night,  &  very  cold  we  kept  on  Bradford  side  &  put  up  at 
Revd  Mr  Allen's.  He  addressed  the  eldest  daughter  of  Dr  Eliot  of 
Boston  who  died  before  his  settlement,  &  is  now  married  to  a  Mrs 
Kent,  many  years  older  than  himself.  They  have  one  child  &  are 
very  hospitable.  Haverhill  is  an  agreable  Town  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  which  side  being  lower  than  on  Bradford  side,  gave  us  a 
good  view  over  the  river.  After  breakfast  we  proceeded  to  Andover. 
There  was  a  lecture  appointed  at  Mr  French's,  but  my  company 
formed  an  excuse  for  my  leaving  them  after  I  had  viewed  the  Acad- 
emy. It  is  an  elegant  building,  situated  upon  an  hill,  in  free  air.  In 
the  front  are  enclosed  two  rooms  designed  for  private  Schools,  &  a 
Library,  &c.  Between  there  you  pass  into  the  Academy.  Between 
40  or  50  youth  were  present  under  the  Preceptor  Mr  E.  Pemberton, 
&  the  Sub  P.  a  Mr  Abbot.  The  Preceptor  is  an  amiable  man  &  com- 
municative. His  abilities  are  admirable  for  his  profession.  Above, 
unfinished  &  fitted  with  benches  for  the  religious  Congregation,  for 
which  an  house  has  been  rebuilding,  was  the  Hall,  &Theatre.     It  is 


34  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

arched  with  great  success  for  the  exhibitions  of  the  youth  of  the 
academy.  The  Meeting  House  is  finished  with  great  elegance.  It 
has  a  tower  but  no  steeple,  &  is  painted  in  the  best  manner.  .  .  . 
Expenses  beside  horse  &  Slay,  Essex  Bridge  /9d.  Wenham,  Is/. 
Ips:  1/6.  Newb:  Bridge,  /4d.  New:  Servant,  1/6.  Shavg,  /10d. 
Bradf :  Horse,  /10d.  Boardmans  sert:  1/6.  Danvers,  Upton,  1/6. 
tot:  9s/9d. 

He,*  *  :js  *  *  #  * 

On  Tuesday,  March  29,  [1789]  I  went  for  Andover.  I  dined -at  the 
Black  Horse  in  Middleton  &  while  dinner  was  preparing!  viewed  the 
Pond  lying  west  of  the  road  at  a  1/4  of  a  miles  distance.  The  Pond 
measures  a  mile  E.  &  W.  &  about  1/2  mile  north  &  S.  A  road  passes 
by  it  on  the  north,  on  which  side  the  pond  is  viewed  with  great 
advantage  from  the  top  of  an  hill  adjoining.  After  dinner  I  proceed- 
ed to  Andover,  &  put  up  at  Adams'  on  Haverhill's  road.  Then  went 
to  Dr  Kitteridge's  1/4  mile  from  the  meeting  house.  He  has  a  large 
mansion  house  finished  in  front  with  great  elegance  with  a  plan  of  a 
large  yard.  The  House  is  on  the  S.  side  of  a  Hill  of  considerable  ele- 
vation &  commands  a  good  prospect  of  the  Great  Road.  After  Tea 
with  the  Dr,  &  his  wife  an  Osgood,  very  deaf,  &  a  sweet  daughter 
Sukey,  I  went  in  company  with  the  Dr  to  Mr  Chickering's.  At  this 
house  young  Prat  is  confined.  I  found  his  delirium  continued.  I  spent 
the  evening  at  Rev.  Symmes,  &  found  him  an  informed  &  agreeable 
Gentleman.  His  health  is  very  infirm.  His  wife  was  a  sensible,  & 
kind  woman.  I  lodged  &  breakfasted  at  the  Doctor's,  visited  Pratt 
again,  took  my  leave  of  the  Parson,  &  left  the  town.  I  dined  at  E. 
Fuller's  a  good  farmer  in  Middleton.  Visited  Parson  Smith,  &  drank 
tea  &  lodged  at  Revd  Wadsworth  in  Danvers.  He  is  an  ingenious 
man  &  has  a  very  amiable  wife  &  family.  On  Thursday  11  o'clock 
A.  M.  I  reached  Salem. 

May  12th,  1789.  Association  met  at  Fuller's  in  Gloucester.  The 
road  is  at  present  through  Chebacco,  part  of  Ipswich.  It  is  tolerable 
till  we  reach  the  pond  on  our  right.  From  thence  it  is  two  miles  to 
the  inlet,  upon  which  the  meeting  house  stands.     The  Bridge  is  con-. 


REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  35 

venient,  but  the  Causeway  beyond,  being  overflowed  by  the  tide, 
consists  of  so  many  naked  cross  pieces,  &  stones,  as  make  it  very 
disagreable.  After  we  are  over  we  turn  to  the  left  in  a  bad  road  & 
in  three  miles  reach  the  Meeting  house.  It  is  the  most  rocky  parish 
I  ever  beheld.  12  Clergymen  of  the  Association  were  present.  We 
returned  on  the  same  day.  In  Chebacco  are  two  meeting  houses 
near  to  each  other,  which  are  improved  alternately  as  the  age  of  the 
houses  &  their  size  suit  the  season.  They  are  monuments  of  religious 
dissentions  in  that  place,  which  is  still  remarkable  for  its  zeal.  Mr. 
Cleveland,,  to  whom  they  are  indebted  for  their  present  character, 
was  severely  handled  by  Mayhew,  &  tho'  a  man  of  small  abilities  has 
interfered  in  many  printed  controversies  &  his  daughter  in  the  zeal 
of  Night  meetings  was  overtaken  by  temptation,  &  fell. 

On  Saturday,  Aug.  1,  1789  visited  Topsfield,  one  of  the  most  pleas- 
ing towns  in  our  neighborhood.  After  dinner  Mr  Porter  with  Mrs 
Orne  went  with  me  to  a  pond  about  two  miles  above  the  Meeting 
house  on  the  road  to  Boxford.  At  a  Mr  Hood's  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  pond  we  were  entertained  with  berries  &c,  &c,  &c.  The  Pond 
runs  nearly  with  the  road  in  a  supposed  north  &  south  direction  1/2 
a  mile,  &  is  nearly  of  equal  width  throughout,  being  about  a  1/4  of 
a  mile  under,  in  both  directions  the  given  distances.  The  approach 
to  the  pond  upon  the  west  side  is  best,  but  the  greater  part  is  swampy. 
We  travelled  through  the  swamp,  by  which  we  were  prepared  with- 
out ceremony  to  wade  in  for  the  Pond  Lillies.  We  returned  for  Tea 
to  Mr  Porter's.  The  sides  of  the  Pond  are  very  shoal,  which  makes 
fishing  with  angling  rods  very  difficult,  &  there  was  no  boat  at  this 
time  in  the  pond.     Mr  Porter  caught  one  Pickerel. 

*!•  -T-  *£■  *F  *t*  r-  *t»  *£ 

July  28, 1790.  This  afternoon  I  went  to  ride  with  Nancy  Townsend, 
one  of  my  singers.  We  passed  Pickman's  farm  towards  Philips  Beach. 
We  turned  to  the  right  in  the  road  from  Lynn  to  Marblehead,  &  then 
in  a  few  roods  crossed  at  the  left.  There  are  several  valuable  Farms 
on  this  Spot.  We  arrived  in  a  bad  road  of  one  mile  &  1/2  at  Philips 
Beach  so  called,  about  1/6  of  a  mile  long.  We  then  alighted  &  passed 
bars  &  descended  upon  Blaney's  Beach  which  was  of  greater  length. 


36  REV.  WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

I  then  passed  alone  over  another  headland  &  crossed  King's  or  Need- 
ham's  Beach,  above  1/2  a  mile  long,  &  was  upon  the  next  headland 
within  1/4  of  a  mile  of  the  Great  Nahant  Beach.  I  returned  then  & 
received  my  Companion,  &  stopped  at  Mr  Reid's  on  Browne's  Farm, 
now  in  the  possession  of  his  widow.  He  conducted  me  to  a  Beach  at 
the  bottom  of  his  farm,  exceeding  in  length  either  of  the  other  Beaches 
excepting  Nahant.  We  entered  through  land  cast  up  by  the  sea, 
about  midway  of  the  Beach  &  North  of  a  Pond  formed  by  the  beach 
cast  up  &  covering  about  nine  acres.  It  is  drained  of  the  greatest 
body  of  water,  which  is  cast  into  it  by  a  storm,  through  a  ditch  opened 
every  time.  At  each  end  of  the  Beach  the  banks  are  high,  &  steep 
&  closed  with  large  rocks  particularly  at  the  northern  end,  projecting 
to  Ram  Island.  Pig  &  Sunken  rocks  are  directly  off  this  Beach,  & 
the  Light  House  of  Boston  on  the  south  view.  The  farm  consists 
of  375  acres,  &  is  this  year  in  a  very  flourishing  state,  &  is  cultivat- 
ed in  the  following  manner.  20  acres  of  Indian  corn,  20  acres 
of  Barley,  &  Buck  Wheat,  Rye  blasts,  3  acres  of  flax,  &  4  of 
Potatoes.  50  head  of  Cattle  is  the  principal  Stock,  29  Cows  are 
milked.  A  very  few  sheep  are  on  the  Farm.  The  Farmer  has  ten 
children  and  is  a  Native  of  Woburn.  We  returned,  &  passed  off  to 
the  right  &  came  into  Lynn  Road  1/2  a  mile  nearer  to  Marblehead. 
We  then  turned  round  into  Salem  Road,  &  came  by  Gardner's  mills 
homewards.  There  are  many  little  boats  laying  along  above  the 
Beach.  These  are  the  property  of  men  in  the  neighbouring  towns, 
who  come  down  in  the  months  of  April,  May,  &  June,  &  fish  for  cod, 
haddock,  perch,  &c.  with  considerable  success.  They  will  accomo- 
date from  8  to  10  men  on  the  seats,  &  resemble  whale  boats,  tho' 
most  have  flat  bottoms.  The  shore  is  broken  from  Browne's  Beach 
towards  Marblehead  neck,  &  Tinker's  Island  which  were  in  full  view 
on  the  head  north  of  Browne's  Beach.  There  are  short  landing 
places  between  the  projecting  naked  rocks.  I  suspect  that  little  com- 
pany visits  this  place,  from  the  readiness  to  serve  without  pay,  &  so- 
licitations, &c.     Barn  96  by  36  feet. 

******** 

Sept.  22,  1790.     At  1/2  past  6  in  the  morning  I  went  from  Salem 
for  Haverhill,   to  attend  a  Review  of  the  Regiment,  &  to  visit  Capt. 


REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  37 

Elkins,  who  is  superintending  the  building  of  a  vessel.  I  arrived  at 
Mrs  Porter's  Topsfield,  about  nine  miles  from  Salem,  &  made  my 
first  stage.  I  then  passed  the  meeting  house  on  my  left,  &  turned  at 
the  burying  ground  1/4  mile  beyond,  keeping  the  most  direct  road, 
avoiding  the  road  leading  to  Ipswich  &  Newbury  on  the  right,  & 
to  Andover,  &c.  on  the  left.  I  passed  Topsfield  Pond  on  my  right, 
&  went  from  it  at  the  upper  end.  This  pond  I  had  visited  before. 
Within  a  few  miles  I  passed  a  beautiful  &  small  pond  nearly  round 
&  bold  banks  on  the  left,  &  afterwards  another  on  the  same  side, 
having  made  a  mistake  in  turning  to  the  left,  instead  of  keeping  on, 
about  7  miles  from  the  ferry.  I  soon  mounted  a  Hill,  which  gave 
me  a  sight  of  Haverhill  steeple  4  miles  before  I  reached  the  ferry,  & 
this  part  of  the  road  was  worst,  mountainous,  but  under  repair.  When 
I  arrived  at  the  ferry,  I  found  that  the  Review  was  to  be  on  Bradford 
side,  &  left  my  carriage,  but  afterwards  by  sending  for  it  I  was  in- 
volved in  several  perplexities  from  receiving  a  wrong  one.  I  carried 
letters  to  a  Mrs  Carleton,  who  was  formerly  a  Bowes,  &  of  the  Brown 
family,  sister  of  Mrs  Homans.  I  found  Capt  Elkins  at  Herod's  Tav- 
ern below  the  Meetinghouse.  The  Landlord  was  a  neighbour  in 
Boston,  &  has  a  fine  family  of  9  children.  I  put  up  at  this  house,  & 
found  the  best  connections  in  the  place,  &  very  kind  treatment.  I 
visited  the  ship  yard.  I  found  only  the  Vessel  of  Capt  Elkins  on  the 
Stocks.  She  is  not  of  great  burden.  The  Town  has  many  good 
houses.  An  extensive  prospect,  being  situate  upon  rising  ground, 
descending  to  the  river;  upon  whose  bank  is  the  great  Street.  The 
Street  extends  a  full  mile  but  the  group  of  house  are  at  the  upper 
end,  &  the  dwelling  Houses  chiefly  above  the  Street.  At  the  lower 
end,  is  an  elegant  Seat  of  the  Saltonstals,  now  the  property  of  Mr 
Watson  of  Plimouth.  It  has  about  30  acres  of  land,  an  ancient  row 
of  Elms,  &  Buttons,  &  most  engaging  Prospect  of  the  River  and  ad- 
jacent country.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  street  is  the  Baptist  Meet- 
ing House,  the  only  respectable  assembly  of  that  denomination  in  the 
County,  &  that  is  lessening.  It  was  found'd  about  30  years  ago  dur- 
ing the  ministry  of  Mr  Bernard,  by  a  Mr  Hezekiah  Smith,  who  is  the 
present  pastor.  It  is  much  out  of  repair,  as  are  houses  in  general  of 
that  denomination.     The  assembly  Room  is  in  an  unfinished  building. 


38  REV.  WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 

Below  is  a  Shop,  &  the  entrance  into  the  Room  is  by  a  flight  of  Stairs 
behind  the  Shop.  As  it  is  upon  the  Street,  it  opens  into  a  Gallery 
with  a  handsome  painted  balustrade.  Over  the  fire  place  at  the  op- 
posite end  is  a  loft  for  the  band,  &  the  whole  Room  is  finely  arched, 
&  convenient.  The  drawing  Room  is  behind.  The  Congregational 
Church  has  a  most  excellent  site.  It  is  facing  you.  as  you  ascend  a 
street  leading  from  the  main  street  into  the  Country.  The  Houses 
round  are  pleasant  &  in  a  good  style.  It  is  painted  white,  has  a 
steeple  &  small  bell,  which  rings  at  one  &  nine  in  the  evening.  The  in- 
terior part  of  the  Church  is  without  elegance,  or  any  distinction.  From 
the  Street  we  are  conducted  a  few  rods  back  into  the  Duck  Manufac- 
tory set  up  &  carried  on  by  a  Mr  Blodget,  a  very  ingenious  mechanic, 
of  some  rank,  formerly  in  N.  Hampshire.  His  looms  are  constructed 
so  as  every  part  by  pins,  &  wedges  may  be  brought  to  any  convenient 
form,  &  his  spinners  use  the  method  which  has  in  substance  been 
adopted  from  them  in  Salem.  The  wheel  which  turns  all  the  spindles 
may  be  assisted  by  the  feet  &  hands  at  discretion,  &  is  turned  below. 
By  a  small  weight  he  causes  a  stand  for  a  lamp  or  candle  to  return, 
&  it  is  conducted  out  by  a  wire  fastened  to  the  Spinner,  at  a  conven- 
ient distance.  He  has  eight  looms  going,  &  room  for  eight  more. 
He  has  many  good  specimens  of  his  Duck,  which  by  a  small  anchor 
he  lays  in  the  river  for  necessary  soaking;  &c.  There  were  three 
distilleries,  but  one  of  them  is  changed  into  a  Brewery,  &  with  con- 
siderable success.  The  water  of  the  river  is  pronounced  very  fit  for 
the  purpose.  In  this  Town  resides  our  Chief  Justice  Sergeant.  Back 
of  the^Meeting  House  &  on  the  side  is  the  house  of  the  Revd  Mr  Shaw. 
The  scene  was  engaging  while  I  was  present.  The  River  was  alive 
with  Boats.  The  opposite  Shore  crowded  with  Spectators  &  every 
diversion  was  pursued  which  rural  life,  admits.  The  Regiment  con- 
sisted of  800  rank  &  file,  &  the  Company  of  Horse.  The  men  were 
well  dressed.  The  Col.  named  Brickett,  at  whose  house  was  an  en- 
tertainment for  the  Clergy,  the  Officers  dining  at  Bradford  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  River.  He  is  by  profession  a  Physician.  There 
was  a  manly  freedom  in  the  higher  class  of  people,  but  a  strange 
contrast  to  the  manners  of  the  lower  people,  who  being  employed, 
instead  of  forming  upon  the  rivers  on  rafts,  &  lumbering,  have  very 


REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  39 

much  the  manners  of  the  people  in  the  province  of  Maine,  &  have 
their  distinguishing  vices,  intemperance  &  want  of  punctuality  in 
their  dealings.  The  soil  on  the  road  through  Boxford  was  light,  but 
better  in  Bradford.  At  Haverhill  the  river  is  1/8  of  a  mile  wide,  & 
the  tide  flows  commonly  about  4  feet.  We  are  carried  over  in  Gon- 
dolas, when  we  have  carriages.  I  saw  only  the  young  ladies  of  the 
place. 

23.  I  returned  as  far  as  Newbury.  I  came  clown  Haverhill  side 
with  an  intention  to  pass  at  Cottle's  ferry,  4  miles  below  the  Town. 
There  is  a  ferry  called  Russel's  3  miles,  entering* the  road  by  a  Brick 
house  on  the  right.  But  as  the  waterman  lives  on  the  other  side,  & 
Cottle  on  this,  they  establish  it  as  a  rule  to  pass  down  by  Cottle's  & 
return  by  Russel's  ferry.  After  passing  these  ferries  there  are  two 
roads,  one  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  &  the  other  through  the  country, 
the  latter  being  preferable  for  carriages  I  chose  it  but  lost  the  beau- 
tiful prospect  of  the  river,  with  which  I  had  hitherto  been  entertained. 
At  the  first  turning  out  I  was  soon  brought  into  the  lower  road  again 
&  found  I  had  passed  a  group  of  houses  on  the  banks,  but  about  5 
1/2  miles  from  Amesbury  I  went  1/2  mile  directly  from  the  river, 
&  lost  every  good  prospect  till  I  reached  the  Town.  Upon  passing 
on  both  sides  I  found  on  this  the  prospect  most  extensive  but  the 
roads  are  very  hilly  on  this  side.  I  soon  entered  the  upper  parish 
which  has  an  elegant  meeting  house,  pediment  on  front,  &  lately 
painted  of  a  light  colour.  I  passed  this  on  my  left,  and  a  few  miles 
6elow  passed  on  the  left  the  lower  Meeting  House  much  out  of  re- 
pair. This  House  was  formerly  used  by  Mr  Hibbcrt  a  Presbyterian, 
who  has  withdrawn  with  his  party,  &  built  a  House  a  little  back  from 
this  spot,  &  has  lately  been  rejected  for  intemperance.  They  settled  a 
Bell,  a  most  extravagant  preacher,  who  is  also  dismissed.  The  Country 
is  not  the  most  fertile,  it  is  much  more  productive  on  the  opposite 
banks.  They  plant  Indian  Corn  &  sow  flax.  I  saw  no  experiments  on 
other  grain.  As  we  pass  we  see  at  a  mile's  distance  on  our  left  Salisbury 
meeting  House,  &  as  there  is  a  lock  of  the  river  between  Salisbury  & 
Amesbury  on  the  banks  of  the  River  at  the  entrance  there  is  a  con- 
venient draw  Bridge,  which  has  a  good  eh  eel  as  seen  from  the  River. 
Several  vessels  of  considerable  burden  were  upon  the  Stocks,  &  many 


40  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787~1799. 

under  repairs  in  view  as  we  passed.  Having  passed  Amesbury  ferry 
we  ascend  an  hill,  which  was  then  in  the  hands  of  the  Surveyors  &  at 
2  1/2  miles  distance  lies  Newburyport.  A  small  Island  shews  itself 
just  below  the  ferry,  &  so  another  at  a  short  distance  below  Haver- 
hill tho'  the  latter  is  the  largest,  tho'  not  the  boldest  of  the  two. 
From  the  ferry  the  road  becomes  more  pleasant  as  you  approach  the 
Town.  The  soil  at  first  is  barren  &  upon  a  barren  plain  on  the  right 
stands  a  deserted  Meeting  House  once  improved  by  a  curious  Mr 
Noble.  Soon  we  pass  delightful  Houses,  &  the  Seats  of  Messieurs 
Jackson  &  Tracey  entering  the  Town.  The  north  is  thinly  settled 
&  little  cultivated.  There  are  some  noble  buildings  belonging  to 
private  Gentlemen.  The  Church  of  England  has  a  forbidding  appear- 
ance &  the  Steeples  have  no  good  effect.  The  best  view  of  the  Town 
is  from  the  Powder  house  hill  &  from  the  water,  but  in  no  place  does 
it  group  well.  From  the  country  it  is  too  open,  &  from  the  water 
the  best  buildings  are  hid.  They  have  lately  erected  a  New  School 
House  in  the  High  Street  near  the  Pond,  which  has  a  belfry  &  is  very 
convenient  &  handsome.  The  benches  rise  from  the  centre.  No 
forms  go  against  the  sides  of  the  building.  The  rise  is  one  foot  on  > 
each  side.  The  day  was  appointed  for  the  Military  Review.  The  other 
part  of  the  Regiment  was  reviewed  on  Monday  at  Salisbury  &  we 
had  only  the  town  companies.  Some  points  of  honor  induced  the 
South  Company  to  club  their  firelocks  &  retire  from  the  parade,  tho' 
they  submitted  to  an  inspection  in  the  afternoon.  Three  companies 
with  the  Artillery  paraded  in  High  Street  in  the  afternoon.  I  drank 
tea  with  Mr  Moses  Hoit,  &  supped  with  Dr  Swett  in  company  with 
Esqr.  Atkins.  I  visited  Mr  Jackson,  and  my  more  intimate  friends. 
At  Mycall's  printing  office  I  saw  the  best  furnished  office  I  had  ever 
seen,  tho'  the  preference  is  decidedly  given  in  favour  of  Thomas  of 
Worcester  who  has  lately  made  very  rich  additions  to  his  types. 

Sept.  24.  I  breakfasted  with  Esqr.  Atkins  &  at  10  set  out  for  Salem. 
I  dined  at  Treadwell's  at  Ipswich,  returned  through  Wenham,  con- 
versed with  Revd.  Swain,  &  stopped  in  Beverley  at  the  Manufactory 
&  soon  afterwards  was  joined  by  our  member  Mr  Goodhue,  &  two 
Gentlemen  from  Connecticut,  Judge  Ailsbury  of  the  Senate,  &  Sher- 
man of  the  House.     Two  Jennies  were  at  work  below,  which  carried 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799.  41 

about  70  spindles  each.  Several  looms  were  at  work,  &  the  remark- 
able circumstance  to  us  was  the  moving  of  the  shuttle  by  Springs, 
which  gives  great  velocity,  &  allows  the  greatest  number  of  strokes. 
Above  all  the  carding  machine  was  most  curious  as  it  was  different 
from  all  our  observations.  Two  large  cylinders  of  two  feet  diameter 
move  in  contact,  &  upon  them  other  cylinders  of  different  diameters, 
&  these  are  covered  with  fine  cards.  These  convey  the  wool  when 
carded  to  a  knife  which  cuts  it  &  to  a  smooth  cylinder  whose  upper 
service  is  made  to  assume  as  many  projections  as  correspond  to  the 
operations  of  the  knife,  &  bring  away  the  carded  wool.  The  speci- 
mens of  the  cloth  were  various  &  good.  The  carding  machine  cards 
fifteen  pounds  of  wool  in  a  day  easily,  said  Mr  John  Cabot,  who 
waited  upon  us,  &  recommended  his  Manufactory  to  the  patronage 
of  Government.  I  reached  Salem  before  Sundown,  &  waited  upon 
the  Gentlemen  to  see  Mr  Symonds  aet  99. 

Mr  Mycall  is  now  printing  the  last  volumes  of  the  "Children's 
friend,"  a  valuable  work  in  Schools.  Expences  on  the  Journey,  pass- 
ing ferry  alone  a  copper,  carriage  at  Haverhill  /7d.  Expences  at 
Herod's  6s/.  At  Amsbury  ferry  /7d.  At  Ipswich  1/8.  Beverley 
Bridge  /9d.     Expense  of  Sulkey,  15s/. 

*#         *         *  -      *         *         *         * 

April  1,  1791.  Set  out  for  Andover  by  the  way  of  Topsfield  & 
Boxford.  This  road  is  judged  the  best  for  a  Carriage,  tho' the  dis- 
tance be  three  miles  greater  in  this  road,  than  through  Middleton. 
At  Topsfield  we  passed  the  Meeting  house  on  our  left.  The  Meeting 
House  on  our  right  would  have  carried  us  through  the  old  Parish,  Revd. 
Holyoke's,  to  Andover  in  less  distance  but  worse  road.  We  kept  the 
left  hand  road,  as  the  most  direct,  passing  several  Pond's,  Pritchards 
on  the  right  2  miles,  Wood's  on  the  left  5  miles,  &c.  The  roads 
which  go  out  on  the  right  turn  off  much.  At  6  miles  distance  we 
leave  the  right  hand  path  &  take  left  at  an  Oak  tree  in  the  road,  the 
right  leading  to  Haverhill.  We  keep  the  left  6  miles  to  Andover  in 
the  most  direct  path.  Four  miles  from  Andover  we  see  the  north 
Parish  Meeting  House  of  Boxford  on  our  right,  at  1/2  mile's  distance. 
Here  is  a  Farm,  &  Dwelling  House  in  good  order,  possessed  by  Gideon 
Tyler.     We  come  out  1/2  mile  below  Andover  north  Meeting  House. 


42  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799. 

As  our  visit  was  intended  for  Dr  Kitteridge,  whom  my  companion 
Capt.  Becket  intended  to  consult,  we  passed  by  the  Dr's  House,  & 
went  to  the  Public  House  1/4  mile  below  formerly  kept  by  Craig, 
since  by  Adams,  &  now  by  Bimsley  Stevens,  lately  Goal  Keeper,  & 
Deputy  Sheriff  in  Salem.  He  was  a  native  of  Andover.  The  road 
was  remarkably  good  for  the  season  of  the  year.  There  are  several 
Saw  Mills  on  the  road.  At  two  we  stopped,  to  which  roads  lead  on 
the  left,  going  to  Andover,  at  1/8  mile  distance.  The  Buildings  are 
decent,  the  land  not  the  best.  In  the  afternoon  we  visited  Fry's  Hill, 
nearly  south  of  the  Meeting  House  in  north  Andover,  above  a  mile 
in  the  road.  The  Hill  is  very  high,  &  steep  towards  the  road.  Quite 
round  for  its  height,  &  its  greatest  length  N.  &  S.  It  overtops  the 
adjacent  country.  It  being  a  fair  day  we  had  an  extensive  prospect. 
Milton  hills  lay  from  us  in  the  line  of  a  hill  2  miles  off,  &  were  hid- 
den. On  every  other  quarter  the  eye  might  range  without  obstruc- 
tion. N.  W.  bore  the  Wachuset  of  Princeton,  distant  60  miles  in  the 
road,  &  N.  of  it  the  Great  Menadnock  near  Dublin  in  N.  Hampshire. 
On  the  N.  we  saw  Adrimeticus  in  the  province  of  Maine,  &  on  the 
E.  Pidgeon  Hill,  Cape  Ann  &  the  Ocean  from  which  we  were  distant 
above  30  miles.  In  the  valley  we  saw  on  the  north  the  Merimack 
distant  at  the  nearest  point  3  miles,  &  the  Shawshin  which  empties 
into  it  about  1  mile  &  1/2  below  the  N.  Meeting  House  of  Andover. 
Methuen  meeting  house  &  houses  were  seen  from  the  Public  House, 
&  from  the  Hill,  &  lays  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  Merimack. 
N.  Parish  of  Haverhill  appeared  in  full  view  joined  to  Methuen,  & 
above  the  Houses  of  Dracut.  The  Academy  on  the  S.  W.  appeared 
at  2  miles  distance,  &  in  the  vale  below  the  S.  Meeting  House  finished 
with  a  Tower.  On  S.  K.  we  saw  Topsfield  Meeting  House  &  Spire, 
&  the  Road  through  which  we  had  passed.  We  were  kindly  received 
at  Mr  Fry's  by  his  wife,  who  was  a  Mackey  of  Salem.  After  tea  we 
went  down  to  the  River,  just  below  the  entrance  of  the  Shawshin  in- 
to the  Merrimack.  The  River  Shawshin  flows  through  Tewksbuiy 
into  Andover,  &  enters  above  a  mile  below  the  N.  Meeting  House  of 
Andover  into  the  Merrimack,  opposite  to  Methuen.  The  River  is  40 
rods  wide  &  where  it  is  entered  by  the  Shawshin  there  is  a  ford  of 
gravel  which  is  passed  in  the  summer  season  without  hazard,   tho 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799.  43 

the  water  below  be  of  great  depth.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  Mer- 
rimack, but  a  little  above,  enters  another  small  river  of  considerable 
course  from  N.Hampshire.  The  Honourable  Judge  Phillips,  Revd. 
Symmes  &  Dr.  Kitteridge  visited  us  upon  our  return.  Our  Landlord 
attended  us  with  his  perspective  glass  in  our  excursions.  We  visited 
the  Training  field  on  the  N.  of  the  Doctor's  House. 

April  2.  From  the  Doctor's  at  9  we  set  out  for  home.  The  stones 
from  Andover  have  a  uniform  appearance  until  we  reach  Topsfield, 
especially  those  used  in  the  walls  of  the  enclosures,  being  of  the 
appearance  of  iron  mould  &  as  if  lately  dug  from  the  earth,  which 
upon  the  first  sight  of  them  we  imagined.  Going  and  coming  we 
made  our  Stages  at  Baker's,  Topsfield.  I  visited  Mrs.  Porter,  a  sen- 
sible woman  formerly  an  Allen.  I  saw  my  old  classmate  Wildes  upon, 
the  road,  and  a  Mr  Gould,  M.  A.  We  reached  Salem  at  Dinner.  At 
Topsfield  Hill  may  be  seen  the  Spires  of  Marblehead.  We  saw  men 
on  their  rafts  passing  down  the  Merrimack  River.  We  observed  the 
shifting  banks,  loosing  on  the  Methuen  side  &  gaining  below  on  An- 
dover side.  We  were  informed  that  there  were  now  at  the  Andover 
Academy  66  youth,  &  in  last  summer  73.  That  board  is  at  Judge 
Phillip's  9s.,  Revd.  French's  8s.,  Esqr.  Abbot's  7s.  6d.  and  Tuition 
not  exceeding  Is.  pr  week.  We  observed  the  jealousy  of  the  Parishes. 
The  North  Parish  complain  that  there  own  Grammar  School  is  neg- 
lected. The  Parson  observes  that  Academies  are  too  numerous, 
that  their  model  is  not  purely  republican,  &  that  an  antient  institu- 
tion was  best  for  general  knowledge,  that  there  should  be  provision 
for  a  Grammar  School  in  every  town. 

******         *         * 

April  21,  1791.  Past  8  A.  M.  set  out  for  Newbury.  At  Beverley 
saw  Revd.  Oliver  who  told  me  Lee,  the  Methodist,  was  preaching  in 
his  parish  with  some  disaffected  persons.  This  parson  is  much 
prejudiced  against  the  Arminians ;  not  much  informed.  At  Wenham, 
Revd.  Swain  assures  me  that  Mr  P.  of  Lynn  had  taken  freedoms  with 
women  in  Beverley,  while  an  occasional  preacher  &  that  some  charges 
were  probably  just,  so  far  as  to  tarrying  late,  kissing,  &c.  At  Ips- 
wich, Revd.  Cutler  was  moving  a  Barn  he  had  purchased,  nearer  his 
Mansion  House.     The  Parish  turned   out  with  their  teams  on   the 


44  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 

occasion.  I  visited  Mr  Frisbie,  a  pious  &  useful  minister  &  dined  at 
Treadwell's.  Reached  Newbury  at  three  o'clock,  &  drank  tea  with 
Mrs  Maley,  formerly  a  Mason.  Hon.  Mr  Jackson  shewed  me  his 
elegant  mansion  House.  It  is  situate  in  the  upper  Street  above  the 
Church  towards  Amesbury  ferry.  It  has  a  spacious  lawn  behind  it 
with  a  gradual  descent,  &  is  near  the  house  of  John  Tracey.  The 
banks  slope  from  the  House.  The  front  door  opens  into  the  hall,  & 
the  flight  of  stairs  is  on  the  south  side.  The  division  between  the 
chambers,  is  formed  into  a  convenient  apartment  of  the  whole  length 
of  the  building  for  favorite  amusements  of  dancing,  &c.  On  the 
north  side  is  a  wing  which  has  a  granary,  chambers  communicating 
with  the  nursery,  &c.  On  the  other  side  a  piazza  was  intended  but 
not  built.  The  Cellars  are  in  excellent  Order  for  all  domestic  uses, 
such  as  cooking,  brewing,  washing.  There  is  a  bathing  room  under 
the  apartments  of  the  nursery,  &c.  He  intends  to  return  to  it  next 
week.  Doors  without  number,  and  conveniences  beyond  account 
present  to  view  &  we  find  it  one  of  the  best  finished  houses  of  wood 
in  the  Country.  In  the  evening  visited  Revd  Murray,*  who  has 
several  students  in  Divinity  in  his  House.  Langdon  on  the  Revela- 
tion of  John,  was  our  Theological  Subject.  Mr  Murray  is  engaged 
in  correcting  the  press  for  Dr  Huntington  of  Connecticut,  upon  the 
subject  of  the  atonement.  Mr  Murray  has  lately  published  his  dis- 
courses on  Original  sin,  which  with  those  on  the  Origin  of  Evil  &  on 
Justification,  make  a  large  volume.  His  health  is  impaired  by  the 
immoderate  length  of  his  pulpit  addresses.  I  lodged  with  Capt 
Noyes. 

22.  I  visted  Revd  Cary,t  &  had  familiar  conversation  on  the  un- 
happy disunion  among  the  Clergy  of  the  Town.  They  utterly  re- 
fuse each  other  civilities,  at  least,  a  Mr  Spring  will  not  support  a  pall, 
or  attend  a  funeral  at  which  Mr  Murray  joins  or  officiates.  With 
Mr  J.  Tracey,  I  went  to  Church  it  being  Good  Friday.  Dr.  Bass,  the 
Parson,  &  intended  Bishop.  His  countenance  is  pleasing,  his  reading 
good  &  his  Sermon   full  of  instruction.     He  is  pleased  with  the  wit 

♦Rev.  John  Murray,  the  Presbyterian,  popularly  called  "Damnation"  Murray 
to  distinguish  him  from  "Salvation"  Murray,  his  Universalist  contemporary. 
fRev.  Thomas  Cary,  pastor  of  the  First  Church  at  Newburyport. 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  45 

of  Charles  the  2d,  &  has  the  variety,  but  not  ill  nature  of  South.  He 
entertained  us  with  the  character  of  Judas  Iscariot.  He  observed  all 
his  faults  with  satyre,  but  of  the  price  of  his  villany  he  observed, 
that  it  proved  him  a  mean  fellow,  for  as  they  would  bid  high  for  his 
friend,  he  ought  to  have  made  them  pay  dear  for  him  at  least,  &  not 
sell  him  in  an  hurry  for  30  shillings,  at  a  price  below  a  horse,  or 
even  a  dog.  I  dined  with  Mrs  Maley,  &  spent  an  hour  with  my 
Classmate  Kilham.*  This  Gentleman,  possessed  with  good  abilities, 
with  a  disposition  not  apt  to  conform  to  the  world,  &  a  zealous  ante- 
federalist,  is  declining  in  his  business  under  his  own  favorite  passion. 
He  informed  me  that  our  Classmate  Rholf  had  preached,  after  a 
humble  retirement  &  study  of  15  years.  We  had  not  his  perform- 
ances from  Judges,  his  popularity  is  greater  in  his  prayers,  than  in 
his  Sermons.  He  is  gone  to  Preach  at  Cambridge.  At  Mr  Mycall's 
the  printer,  I  find  orthodox  publications  multiply.  Besides  the  works 
of  Mr  Murray,  &  Dr  Huntington  above  mentioned,  Mr  Murray  is 
printing  a  sermon  on  the  death  of  Blind  Prince,  a  Clergyman  who 
died  at  Newbury,  &  is  buried  in  the  vault  with  Whitefield.  His  most 
remarkable  trait  is  blindness.  But  while  our  best  sermons  common- 
ly rise  no  higher  than  400  at  an  impression,  I  am  assured  1500  are 
engaged.  A  Mr  Lyon  of  Machias,  at  the  extreme  part  of  Maine  & 
a  composer  in  Music,  has  published  the  first  number  of  his  daily 
meditations,  including  one  month.  It  has  Mr  Murray's  recommend- 
ation. A  Mr  Bradford  of  Rowley  has  also  a  Sermon  in  the  press  up- 
on total  depravity.  These  events  of  the  winter  may  enable  us  to 
judge  the  state  of  religious  opinions  at  least  in  this  part  of  the  County. 
Mr  Mycall  proposed  to  reprint  my  Sermon  delivered  at  Boston,  from 
this  circumstance  that  it  was  preached  first  in  Newbury  Port,  & 
was  deemed  not  to  be  Gospel. 

July  14,  1791.  Went  to  Cape  Ann  to  attend  the  association. 
Found  very  few  members  present,  it  being  very  hot.  McKeen  of 
Beverley  was  ready  to  preach  on  the  accasion.  A  large  Choir  of 
Singers  were  collected  from  the  several  congregations.   The  Preacher 

*Dr.  Daniel  Kilham,  born  at  Wenham,  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Holyoke  of 
Salem,  and  became  an  apothecary  at  Newburypoit. 


46  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799. 

discoursed  upon  the  doctrine  of  future  punishment,  the  Subject,  which 
since  1763  has  kept  the  Town  in  confusion.  He  handled  the  subject 
without  the  least  degree  of  ingenuity,  &  in  a  manner  suited  to  affront 
one  party  &  not  gratify  the  other.  Upon  my  return  to  the  house  I 
blamed  the  introduction  of  the  subject,  &  the  inconsistent  manner  in 
which  it  was  located  (sic).  But  I  was  alone.  .  .  .  After  dinner 
we  were  introduced  to  drink  tea  at  Mr  Rogers',  the  first  merchant  in 
the  place,  who  has  a  numerous  family,  &  preserves  unusual  vivacity, 
while  above  sixty  years  of  age.  In  the  evening  we  were  conducted 
to  a  Mr  Sergeants'  at  whose  house  Music  was  prepared  for  the  even- 
ing. There  was  a  considerable  number  of  gentlemen  &  Ladies  &  very 
handsome  entertainment.  The  instrumental  &  vocal  music  were 
well  performed.  We  have  nothing  like  it  in  Essex.  The  Conviv- 
iality is  remarkable.  The  pieces  were  of  different  classes.  At  eleven 
we  retired.  The  hospitality  of  Capt  Rogers  secured  me  at  his  house, 
and  the  expectation  of  a  chearful  day  to  succeed,  made  a  succession 
of  very  pleasurable  emotions.  He  has  a  fine  wife,  &  gay  children, 
who  contributed  their  full  share  to  the  entertainment,  &  the  pleasure. 
15.  This  morning  it  was  agreed  to  go  to  Eastern  Point,  which 
makes  the  entrance  to  the  Harbour,  above  a  mile  below  the  Town. 
The  harbour  is  formed  by  the  Fort  Hill,  a  little  peninsular  on  the 
west,  which,  projects  boldly  before  the  Town,  &  Rocky  Neck  which 
runs  westerly  from  the  eastern  point.  The  entrance  is  not  wide, 
but  of  sufficient  depth  of  water.  From  the  town  is  a  ledge  called 
Duncan's  Ledge  which  runs  towards  Rocky  Neck  in  a  southerly  di- 
rection, within  which  is  the  Head  of  the  Harbour,  a  bason  not  much 
used,  but  which  opens  into  a  Cove  in  Rocky  Neck,  called  Smuggling 
Harbour  from  a  particular  use  made  of  it  before  the  War.  It  runs 
also  towards  Sandy  Bay  &  there  might  easily  in  a  valley  be  formed  an 
inlet,  through  a  communication  which  the  Sea  sometimes  has  opened. 
About  half  a  mile  without  the  Fort  Hill  is  "Tenpound  Island,"  not 
containing  an  acre  of  ground,  &  between  which  &  Eastern  point  there 
is  a  communication  at  the  lowest  tides,  &  many  difficult  rocks.  Be- 
low on  eastern  point  is  a  Ledge  called  Black  Bess,  &  nearer  the  point 
Dog  Rocks.  Without  the  Point  about  one  mile,  eastward  is  Brace's 
Cove.     It  has  a   Bluff  head  on  the  western  side,  which  is   a  large 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799.  47 

&  lofty  rock.  It  has  a  Ledge  on  the  eastern  side  &  Rocks  without 
it.  It  has  often  proved  fatal  to  manners,  &  the  Cove  been  mistaken 
for  the  entrance  into  Cape  Ann  Harbour.  The  Cove  is  clear  after 
you  are  within  the  eastern  Ledge.  It  enters  almost  half  a  mile,  & 
by  a  narrow  Beach  is  separated  from  a  Pond,  which  extends  almost 
across  the  eastern  point,  which  is  joined  to  the  main  by  this  Beach 
formed  by  the  sea,  a  few  rods  wide,  &  by  the  road  not  much  wider 
on  the  side  towards  Cape  Ann  Harbour.  From  Brace's  Rock  the 
lights  at  Thatcher's  Islands  are  in  full  view,  above  a  leagues  distance. 
The  Farm  of  Eastern  point,  purchased  last  year  by  Daniel  Rogers, 
who  was  with  us,  is  very  rough.  There  is  a  delightful  grove  of  Oaks, 
&c.  within  the  point,  to  which  company  resorts  and  enjoys  a  fine  air 
in  the  warmest  weather.  The  Farm  is  very  rough,  affords  pasture, 
but  there  was  no  tillage  land  beyond  the  Pond  towards  the  Point. 
About  200  acres  lay  towards  the  point,  &  the  rest,  amounting  to  300 
acres  was  sold  together  for  320  pounds.  The  tenant  pays  an  annual 
rent  of  27£.  The  House  is  on  the  road  by  the  pond,  after  you  have 
passed  it  going  to  eastern  Point,  not  a  mile  from  the  Grove.  Oppo- 
site to  eastern  Point  at  the  entrance  is  a  Rocky  Shore  called  Norman's 
Woe,  &  about  a  league  westerly  near  the  shore  may  be  seen  Kettle 
Island,  a  small  island,  &  a  mile  beyond  on  the  same  shore  Egg  rock, 
as  you  go  towards  Manchester.  Our  party  consisted  of  above  60 
persons  of  both  sexes.  With  Col  Pearce  in  a  skif  we  caught  several 
dozen  of  perch,  &  after  two  we  dined  in  a  friendly  manner.  Another 
party  in  a  Sloop  larger  than  our  own  furnished  us  with  Cod  from  the 
Bay,  &  after  dinner  till  Tea  parties  were  engaged  in  Walking,  danc- 
ing, singing,  &  Quoiting,  &  Swinging  &  every  amusement  we  could 
imagine.  The  Poets  story  of  Twandillo  was  realized.  There  was 
but  one  instrument  of  Music  with  us,  which  was  a  fiddle  brought  by 
its  owner  to  pick  up  a  few  coppers.  To  see  him  play  with  it  upon 
his  head,  under  his  arm,  &c,  furnished  a  pleasure  which  the  happi- 
ness of  ignorance  may  innocently  occasion. 

Hark, — his  tortured  catgut  squeals 
He  tickles  every  string,  to  every  note 
He  bends  his  pliant  neck. — 
The  fond  yielding  Maid 
Is  tweedled  into  Love. 


48  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

We  set  out  about  ten  in  the  morning,  and  arrived  before  nine  in 
the  evening  safe  at  the  same  wharf.  And  what  deserves  notice,  not 
a  single  accident,  not  an  angry  word,  occasioned  the  least  interrup- 
tion to  so  large  a  party.  The  principal  Gentlemen  were  in  this  party, 
Daniel  Rogers,  Esqr,  his  two  sons  John  &  Charles,  Capts  Soames, 
Tucker,  Sargeantj  Beach,  Col.  Pearce,  Major  Pearson,  Master  Harkin, 
Mr  Parsons,  &c.  I  went  to  Tea  at  Capt  Beach's  elegant  House  near 
the  meeting  House,  &  was  conducted  into  the  several  apartments 
to  observe  the  neatness  which  prevailed  under  the  pretence  of  exam- 
ining an  excellent  collection  of  pictures,  Cn  the  day  before  1  had 
visited  his  excellent  &  large  Family  Garden,  &  Rope  walk.  I  lodged 
at  Esqr  Rogers,  who  collected  his  family  &  finished  the  scene  by  an 
act  of  devotion. 

16.  In  the  morning  I  arose  before  the  family,  &  set  off  for  home, 
&  breakfasted  at  Manchester,  &  reached  Salem  after  eleven.  While 
we  were  on  eastern  point,  another  party,  with  whom  was  the  Revd 
Mr  Murray  went  into  the  Bay  after  Cod  &  continued  off  the  point  all 
day.  The  religious  controversy  is  not  so  far  settled  as  to  admit  a 
coalition  between  the  Clergymen,  tho'  it  is  greatly  promoted  among 
the  people.  Passing  a  farm  house  in  Manchester  I  observed  a  young 
girl  of  14  years,  &  asked  what  the  name  of  the  rock  was  directly  be- 
fore the  door,  about  1/4  of  a  mile  from  the  shore.  She  answered 
she  had  never  heard,  &  seemed  to  wonder  at  the  question.  Was  this 
ignorance,  in  her,  or  impertinence  in  myself? 

:fs  *  #  #  #  *  *  * 

Aug.  8,  1791.  Went  with  a  party  to  Baker's  Island  [Salem  harbor] 
to  bring  away  the  tools,  materials,  &c.  which  remained  after  the 
finishing  of  the  Beacon.  We  were  in  a  deep  fog  on  our  passage  down 
but  we  hit  the  island  most  exactly.  The  Beacon  is  57  feet  to  the 
top  of  the  Ball,  of  two  feet  diameter,  &  the  Ball  is  painted  black,  ex- 
cept a  part  on  the  top  which  was  neglected  &  remains  white.  The 
Body  is  conical  &  upon  a  diameter  of  nineteen  feet,  to  the  altitude 
of  10  feet  is  formed  a  convenient  room.  The  door  is  on  the  south, 
narrow,  &  painted  red,  as  is  the  building,  but  the  battens  at  the 
door,  white,  that  it  might  more  easily  be  found.  The  window  with 
a  shutter  is  on  the  east,  a  foot  square,  &  there  is  no  other  provision 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799.  49 

made  for  ventilating  it.  Of  this  I  complained  but  we  attempted  in 
vain  to  get  into  the  dead  flat  projection  of  the  head,  of  one  foot,  into 
which  many  holes  ought  to  have  been  made.  The  projection  of  the 
head  was  to  have  been  round,  but  as  there  were  objections  to  clap- 
boarding,  it  was  shingled,  &  so  is  reduced  to  an  octagon  form  like 
the  Cone  of  the  Building,  &  each  length  of  shingling  into  so  many 
small  projections,  amounting  to  four.  It  has  an  awkward  effect. 
The  whole  is  a  generous  &  otherwise  well  executed  design.  The 
foundation  stones  are  very  miserably  laid.  Upon  the  island,  I  tra- 
versed the  whole,  there  are  a  few  miserable  remains  of  the  House 
which  was  in  good  order  since  I  can  well  remember.  The  Barn  has 
left  its  sills,  &  the  top  entire  stands  upon  the  naked  posts.  From 
the  house,  northeasterly  a  few  rods,  are  the  remains  of  the  well,  & 
along  the  stone  wall,  which  crosses  the  island,  near  the  barn,  till  you 
reach  the  eastern  shore  &  then  find  the  spring  of  excellent  water, 
which  supplies  the  cattle.  Our  amusement  was  to  forma  raft  of. 
spars,  boards,  &c.  to  bring  off  the  shingles,  waste  boards,  ropes,  &c., 
a  full  load  &  we  enjoyed  the  employment  tho'  a  wet  one.  We  were 
without  tinder,  &  to  remedy  the  defect  we  rubbed  a  piece  of  pine 
coal,  till  we  reached  the  part  not  entirely  charred,  &  we  had  desirable 
success.  A  plenty  of  fish  &  fine  appetites.  We  observed  the  channel 
between  Eagle  Island,  &  the  Gooseberries,  entering  between  Baker's 
Island  &  Hardy  Rocks.  Eagle  Island  is  said  to  have  contained,  a 
few  years  since,  4  acres  of  mowing  land,  &  three  acres  are  said  to 
be  upon  Nahant  Rock.  Coney  Island  has  but  one  &  1/2,  of  little 
use,  the  grass  being  very  coarse,  &  the  soil  stoney.  The  Goose- 
berries have  a  little  verdure  with  fine  effect.  And  the  Bank  of  Eagle 
Island  being  covered  with  verdure,  &  of  a  sudden  slope,  has  a  very 
good  effect.  We  returned  &  landed  at  sundown,  with  Mr  Wards 
boat,  at  his  Wharf.  Our  Commander  was  Capt  B.  West,  &  Capt  W. 
Patterson,  our  Crew,  Capts  Elkins  &  Chipman,  with  the  Carpenters 
&  Servants,  six  in  number.  We  went  with  pleasure,  &  returned 
pleased. 

*        *         *        *        *         *        *        * 

Aug.  29,  1791.     At  Mr  W.  Gray's  request  I  undertook  to  convey 
in  Newhall's  Coach  three  young  Frenchmen  to  the  Dummer  Academy 


50  REV.  WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 

under  the  care  of  the  Reverend  Isaac  Smith.  Their  names  were 
Barrett,  Bonneville,  &  Morin,  all  of  Martinico,  &  addressed  to  Mr 
Gray.  We  arrived  at  11  at  the  Academy.  Just  before  there  had 
been  two  french  youth  from  Newbury  Port,  but  the  disputes  became 
so  high  from  the  turbulent  temper  of  one  of  them,  as  to  throw  the 
whole  Academy  into  confusion.  The  youth  had  this  day  retired,  & 
the  alarm  was  yet  in  all  its  violence  from  the  bold  threatenings  of 
the  french  youth.  After  a  fair  representation  I  engaged  a  Mr  Hale 
to  receive  them,  &  the  Preceptor  admitted  them  members  of  the 
Academy.  The  common  price  of  board  pr  week  is  6/,  of  Tuition 
one.  There  are  above  300  acres  of  lands  laying  within  the  Arms  of 
Parker  River,  which  constitutes  the  foundation  of  Governor  Dummer, 
&  forms  the  principal  support  of  the  Preceptor.  The  Mansion  House 
is  a  bold  object,  &  is  put  into  good  repair.  The  rooms  are  divided 
very  unequally,  but  from  their  height,  &  connection  with  a  large 
entry,  do  not  fail  of  a  very  good  effect.  The  Academy  is  repaired, 
&  the  whole  forms  a  good  object.  Tho'  the  Building  is  not  equal  to 
Andover,  the  Group  is  as  pleasing.  I  dined  with  the  Preceptor,  and 
after  3  o'clock  set  out  on  my  return.  I  found  at  Rowley  the  meeting 
House  filled  with  people,  &  .upon  enquiry,  I  learnt  that  a  M.  Milton, 
a  pupil  of  Lady  Huntington,  was  to  make  the  prayer  and  a  Mr  James, 
a  noted  travelling  Methodist,  was  to  preach.  We  should  not  imagine 
our  boasted  liberality  was  real,  if  we  should  see  the  country  upon  a 
particular  scale.  On  our  return  towards  Wenham,  we  saw  the  three 
fine  boys  which  came  a  few  years  since  at  a  birth,  sporting  together 
on  the  side  of  the  road.  We  did  not  know  this  circumstance  of  their 
birth,  till  their  good  manners  made  us  enquire  after  them  of  the 
Coachman.  We  reached  Salem -at  Sundown,  &  was  informed  on  the 
road,  that  the  French  youth  Duval  de  Monville,  who  had  lived  with 
me,  had  died  not  long  since.  The  information  is  said  to  be  by  a 
Brother  at  Newbury. 

******** 

Sept.  13,  1791.  1  went  for  Fuller's,  Gloucester,  in  company  with 
Mr  MacKeen.  We  passed  by  way  o|  upper  Beverley  in  Monserat 
quarter.  The  road  for  three  miles  is  very  good,  upon  Taylor's  turn- 
ing to  the  left  not  so  good,  till  we  come  to  Dodge's  Row,  on  Wenham 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  51 

Neck.  We  then  passed  to  the  right  over  a  bridge  through  the  mea- 
dows, covered  with  some  excellent  Willows.  We  then  left  a  Road 
to  Little  Comfort  on  the  right,  &  proceeded  to  Chabacco.  Till  we 
reached  the  Pond,  the  road  is  tolerable,  &  at  some  distance  beyond. 
Here  we  saw  a  rope-walk,  but  could  not  be  informed  by  whom  em- 
ployed, &  in  what  manner.  It  was  a  curious  object  at  this  distance 
from  a  port,  tho'  it  might  be  of  special  use  in  the  small  cordage  of 
the  Fishery  below.  After  entering  Chebacco,  the  road  is  winding,  & 
we  arrive  at  a  Bridge,  considerably  high,  tho'  small,  &  the  descent 
is  relieved  by  cross  pieces,  which  give  not  a  very  pleasing  motion  to 
a  carriage.  We  then  pass  a  causeway  over  the  marshes,  nearly  1/4 
of  a  mile,  which  being  left  low  to  be  overflowed  by  the  tide,  &  formed 
with  cross  pieces,  many  of  whose  ends  now  rise  from  the  ground, 
&  the  stones  being  loose  on  the  top,  make  a  very  uneasy  passage. 
We  turned  in  1/4  of  a  mile  to  the  left,  &  continued  in  that  course 
two  miles,  till  we  reached  the  foot  of  the  hill,  then  leaving  the  road 
to  the  left  our  course  was  over  the  hill.  But  for  a  year  past  the  old 
road,  has  been  cut  by  the  rain  which  in  torrents  has  cut  it  out  be- 
tween the  rocks  several  feet,  &  a  road  is  made  through  a  gate  on  the 
right,  through  which  we  might  pass.  But  separating  from  my 
Companion,  I  took  a  little  boy  into  my  Sulkey  as  a  guide,  who  leav- 
ing me  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  took  a  path  to  the  left,  &  as  they  use 
no  chaises,  directed  me  in  the  foot  path  in  the  old  road.  I  endea- 
voured to  mount  a  most  frightful  hill,  &  soon  getting  out  of  my 
Sulkey,  was  obliged  to  lead  the  trembling  beast  up  to  the  summit, 
with  no  other  injury  than  his  treading  upon  one  of  my  feet  which 
gave  me  considerable  pain.  Below  the  hill  was  the  place  of  our 
destination.  We  found  the  Parson  with  a  huge  family  in  the  vale 
of  Contentment,  &  a  most  frightful  country.  At  twelve  we  went 
to  the  meeting.  I  performed  the  prayers,  &  Brother  Prince 
the  Sermon.  There  was  a  very  neat  congregation.  The  music  was 
very  good,  &  a  propriety  of  conduct  became  subject  of  general  ob- 
servation. After  dinner,  &  some  familiar  conversation,  the  terrors 
of  the  road,  &  the  hurr[y]ing  night  came  into  our  minds.  Three 
only  of  the  company  had  resolution  to  set  out,  Brother  Hubbard  &  I 
being  in  Sulkeys,  &  McKeen  on  Horseback,  were  directed  from  the 


52  REV.    WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799. 

top  of  the  Hill  to  the  left,  &  by  consulting  each  other  in  a  mile's  dis- 
tance we  reached  Squam  road,  &  the  Road  to  the  Harbour,  entring 
on  the  right  by  a  Mill,  &  were  directed  to  enquire' for  Haskell's  the 
Hatter,  if  we  ever  visited  the  place  again.  Here  we  found  a  Hatter 
shop  on  the  right,  &  on  the  left  a  decent  House  of  entertainment, 
with  a  sign  of  a  "Bird  in  the  Hand  is  worth  two  in  the  Bush."  We 
continued  this  road  till  we  came  to  the  place  at  which  we  turned  to 
the  left  in  going  &  then  pursued  our  former  rout,  home.  We  stopped 
at  McKeen's  at  Tea,  &  there  I  left  Mr  Hubbard,  &  returned  home 
alone  at  half  past  nine.  Mr.  McKeen  judges  his  Meeting  House  to 
be  above  40  feet  elevation  from  high  water  mark,  &  of  greater  ele- 
vation than  the  Meeting  House  of  the  upper  Parish.  We  remarked 
the  deception  upon  plains  of  distance,  &  the  account  of  the  Hunts- 
men, that  a  fouling  piece  requires  a  greater  elevation  in  the  meadows, 
because  the  earth  &  water  draws  down  the  bullet.  Bee's,  Coy's, 
Round  &  Gravelly  Ponds  are  not  on  this  Road,  but  the  great  Che- 
bacco  Pond  on  our  right  going  to  Chebacco,  is  between-  us  &  them. 
I  wished  to  see  them,  &  if  time  would  have  permitted  should  have 
attempted  it.  The  Methodists  have  given  a  very  serious  alarm  to 
the  Orthodox.  Cleveland  has  abused  them  in  the  Ipswich  Hamlet 
pulpit,  upon  a  lecture  to  which  he  was  invited  by  Dr  Cutler.  At 
Manchester  there  was  a  curious  interview.  Some  of  the  inhabitants, 
wishing  to  hear  the  Methodists,  proposed  in  town  meeting,  that  up- 
on the  application  of  two  freeholders  the  Committee  should  be  obliged 
to  open  the  meeting  house  to  any  Preachers  they  should  chuse  to 
introduce.  It  was  not  thought  prudent  to  deny  this  request,  &  there- 
fore when  the  vote  was  passed  it  was  proposed  to  qualify  it  with  the 
clause,  provided  no  regularly  ordained  minister  of  the  neighborhood 
should  be  in  Town.  It  was  accepted  in  this  form.  Soon  after  Lee 
&  Smith,  the  Methodists  sent  word  that  they  should  be  in  town  & 
preach  on  the  ensuing  Wednesday.  Notice  was  given  to  Cleveland 
&  Oliver  to  be  present  at  that  time,  &  they  were  ready.  Cleveland 
preached  first,  &  soon  at  a  very  short  intermission  Mr  Oliver.  The 
Methodists  in  the  intermission  learnt  the  trick,  &  after  some  idle 
debates  upon  inability,  election,  itinerancy,  &c,  they  told  the  people 
that  thay  should  preach  in  the  School  House,  &  accordingly  the  two 


REV.   WILLIAM   3ENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  53 

services  began  at  the  same  time-,  but  a  majority  attended  the  Meth- 
odists, offering  this  reason  that  the  other  preaching  was  out  of  spight. 
The  Methodists  have  preached  at  Ipswich,  in  the  several  paiishes, 
Newbury,  &c.  The  Orthodox  who  have  proclaimed  a  work  of  God 
going  on  in  the  Southern  States,  having  now  found  out  that  it  was 
promoted  by  the  Methodists,  have  covered  in  silence  their  mistake, 
having  confessed  that  Satan  may  be  transformed  into  an  Angel  of 
Light.  The  poor  Anabaptists  are  now  left  in  silence,  &  will  prob- 
ably diminish  as  the  sentiments  of  the  Methodists  so  happily  blend 
a  liberality  on  the  five  points,  with  as  much  experience  as  enthusiasm 
can  beget.  The  doctrine  of  Itinerancy  forms  a  dreadful  puzzle  with 
the  orthodox,  who  are  smarting  dreadfully  under  the  lash,  &  are 
convinced  that  they  set  the  example. 

*         *         #         *         *         *         *         * 

Sept.  16, 1791.     This  day  being  appointed  for  the  review  in  Marble- 
head,  I  went  in  company  with  my  Frenchman  &  John  to  observe  the 
conduct  of  the  day.     We  arrived  at  ten  o'clock,   &  found  the  Com- 
panies just  entering  the   parade.     They  formed,   were  inspected  by 
D.  A.  Tracey,  &  afterwards  reviewed  by  B.  G.  Fiske.     As  Marblehead 
is  a  town  composed  of   all  nations,   instructed  in  various   religious 
superstitions,  which  have  left  no  other  than  the  same  fears,  without 
any  light  to  enable  them   to  enter  into  controversies,  with  their  in- 
structions, which  are  rather  their  fears  playing  upon  their  credulity, 
they  have  so  little  knowledge  of  moral  life,  that  they  are  as  profane, 
intemperate,  &  ungoverned  as  any  people  on  the  Continent.     From 
this  general  character,  for  there  are   some  noble  exceptions,   every 
person  expected  entertainment  from  the  folly  which  the  day  would 
exhibit.     But  the  disappointment  was  great.     The  regiment  under 
the  Command  of  Col.  Orne,  junr.  consisted  of  above  300  privates  in 
seven  companies,  with  officers   all  in  a  blue  uniform,    with  a  white 
standard,  bearing  in  the  quarter  the  blue   stripes.     The  men   were 
all  decently  clad.     The  firearms  were  rusty  &  chiefly  without  bayo- 
nets, but  not  disgustful.     When  dismissed  there  was  some  firing  off 
pieces,  but  not  such  as  might  be  expected   from  men  who  had  been 
accustomed  to  this  fault  in  an  alarming  excess.     We  were  escorted 
by  a  proper  guard  at  one  o'clock  to  the  Academy  to  a  public  dinner, 


54  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 

at  which  110  persons  were  received,  &  sumptuously  entertained. 
Col.  Lee,  whose  elegant  house  is  on  the  parade,  gave  us  a  Collation 
at  4  o'clock  in  a  very  polite  &  generous  manner.  At  dinner  every 
propriety  was  observed.  After  dinner  the  Toasts  were  drank.  The 
Commander  of  the  day  condescended  in  the  manner  of  the  place  to 
give  us  a  song  in  turn,  while  Major  Swazey,  Mr  Sewall,  Capt  Orne  in 
turn  assisted  in  the  same  entertainment.  They  could  not  desist  frcm 
liberties  usually  taken  on  such  occasions  to  flatter  national  prejudices 
at  the  expence  of  other  nations,  &  as  I  had  a  Frenchman  with  me, 
Col.  Orne  asked  whether  a  Song  upon  the  French  might  not  be  apol- 
ogised for  to  my  friend.  I  told  him  that  my  friend  was  young,  of  a 
good  family,  but  present  upon  his  courtesy.  However,  Mr  Sewall 
was  betrayed  into  the  error  of  singing  a  burlesque  song,  for  which 
his  exquisite  feelings,  gave  him  adequate  punishment  upon  discovery 
that  a  Frenchman  was  present  &  he  made  most  humble  apologies. 
Col.  Orne  senior,  in  his  own  manner  said,  tell  the  young  man  that 
when  this  same  old  English  song  was  sung  before  a  General  Officer 
in  public  company,  this  generous  Frenchman,  with  a  laugh  replied, 
"Dis  was  no  make  by  de  Frenchman."  My  young  friend  all  this 
while  knew  little  of  the  matter.  It  is  however  a  warning  against 
the  illiberality  of  ballads  &  the  humble  prejudices  they  are  designed 
to  support,  which  ought  to  disappear  when  the  light  of  good  sense 
&  friendly  society  appear.  A  Capt  Homans  entertained  us  with  a 
most  exact  imitation  of  low  life,  in  the  most  indelicate,  honest,  but 
vile  language  of  low  life,  for  which  he  deserved  the  shouts  in  the 
execution,  but  a  whipping  under  the  gallows  when  the  story  was 
ended.  After  the  toasts  at  three  o'clock,  we  returned  in  procession 
to  the  parade,  &  the  afternoon  was  spent  in  evolutions.  First  with 
Revd  Hubbard,  &  then  in  company  with  Col.  Orne,  I  visited, the  Fish 
Flakes  which  were  covered  with  this  staple  of  the  Town.  In  our 
view  from  one  point  were  79  vessels,  of  which  2  were  Brigs,  the  rest 
chiefly  fishing  Schooners,  &  only  4  of  them  at  the  wharves.  The 
ship  with  Jury  masts  was  riding  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbour. 
There  are  but  two  places  in  this  Town  convenient  for  wharves,  each 
of  them  I  visited.  They  are  about  an  eighth  of  a  mile  apart.  No 
wharves  have  piers  to  afford  two  berths  on  a  side,  or  room  for  two 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  55 

vessels  on  a  side.  The  lane  leading  to  the  principal  is  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  Town  House,  which  is  boarded  up  on  the  lower  story,  & 
much  shattered  above.  The  best  Cove  is  said  to  be  red  stone  cove 
at  the  upper  part  of  the  Town,  &  just  below  an  head,  which  I  visited, 
&  whose  name  I  forgot.  The  cove  is  named  from  the  colour  of  the 
rock. 

The  success  of  the  Fishery  has  been  great  this  year,  but  greater 
in  Beverley  than  in  Marblehead  in  the  proportion  of  the  shipping. 
The  difference  is  imputed  to  the  effects  of  privateering  upon  the 
manners  in  Marblehead  &  not  to  the  care  in  fitting  vessels  for  the 
fishery.  Beverly  has  fitted  out  30  Vessels,  and  the  last  fare  now  in, 
is  above  500  quintals  to  a  Vessel,  amounting  at  the  lowest  compu- 
tation to  15,000  quintals.  Marblehead  has  fitted  out  80  Vessels,  of 
the  same  burden,  &  the  success  has  not  been  above  300  quintals  to 
a  Vessel  or  about  25,000  quintals,  the  whole  fare.  Beverley  never 
went  so  fully  into  the  fishery  before  the  war,  &  it  is  believed  that  it 
never  had  in  it  ihe  same  quantity  of  fish  at  the  same  time.  The 
proportion  of  Salem,  who  do  not  enter  largely  into  this  business, 
I  have  not  ascertained,  but  will  do  it  at  a  convenient  opportunity. 
At  Sundown  I  was  introduced  into  the  family  of  Col  Lee  at  Tea.  He 
has  eight  children  &  a  very  obliging  wife.  This  gentleman  has  a 
very  excellent  person,  &  was  highly  esteemed  in  the  Continental 
Army,  &  particularly  by  our  illustrious  Commander  in  chief.  His 
want  of  promotion  in  the  Militia  depends  on  himself.  After  Tea, 
tho'  solicited  to  tarry  at  a  public  Supper,  I  declined  in  apprehension, 
from  the  manners  of  the  people.  I  reached  Salem  at  seven  o'clock. 
I  saw  at  a  distance  the  work  on  the  neck,  which  forms  a  barrier 
against  the  Sea,  but  had  not  time  to  visit  it.  The  Lottery  has  left,  I 
am  informed,  something  in  stock,  for  future  repairs. 

An  anecdote  of  the  Rev  :  Bernard,  the  Bishop  of  the  place,  is,  that 
on  public  trainings,  he  would  carry  his  pockets  loaded  with  Coppers, 
to  throw  to  the  Boys,  to  entertain  himself  with  their  exertions  to 
catch,  or  to  find  them.  This  was  the  ostentatious  virtue  of  the  age, 
in  which  he  lived,  &  passed  as  generosity,  not  diversion.  It  is  said 
there  is  an  admirable  likeness  of  this  eminent  man  yet  remaining  in 
his   Mansion  house  which  I  had  not  time   to  see.     I  wen*t   into  the 


56  REV.  WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 

cupola,  upon  the  elevated  seat  of  Col  Lee  to  enjoy  the  extensive  view 
he  has  from  that  convenient  place,  but  the  air  was  not  sufficiently 
clear  for  the  purpose.  I  could  see  enough  to  believe  the  repre- 
sentation just.  They  have  a  seven  foot  Telescope  in  fine  order,  & 
they  declare  that  they  see  the  people  pass  to  church  in  the  streets  of 
Salem  on  Sunday,  such  a  command  have  they  of  the  Town.  I  ob- 
served that  the  Beacon  on  Baker's  Island  looks  directly  up  their 
Harbour. 

17.  The  Head  above  red  stone  cove  in  Marblehead  is  called 
Skinner's  Head,  from  the  owner,  &  the  head  below  not  of  so  bold 
projection  into,  the  harbor,  &  not  so  dangerous  to  Mariners,  or  to 
vessels  driven  from  their  Anchors,  is  Bartkol's  Head,  which  is  of  much 
greater  elevation.  The  land  is  exceedingly  rough,  &  they  use  no 
wheels  in  these  flakes.  The  wharves  below  the  town  house  are 
called  the  New  Wharves  in  distinction  from  those  above. 
******** 

April  4,  1792.  It  being  the  day  appointed  for  the  ordination  of 
Mr  A.  Parish  at  Manchester,  upon  the  invitation  of  Mr  Lee  I  went 
for  Manchester  in  company  with  my  french  pupil  Mr  Igout  about 
nine  o'clock.  We  arrived  between  ten  &  eleven,  &  after  twelve  the 
Council  appeared  for  the  services.  The  House  being  both  small  & 
weak,  &  the  day  uncommonly  warm  &  pleasant,  the  Services  were 
performed  in  front  of  the  Meeting  House  upon  a  scafford  raised  for 
the  purpose.  The  solemnities  were  introduced  by  a  prayer  from 
Mr  Cleaveland  of  Stoneham.  His  Father  of  Ipswich  being  Moderator. 
The  Sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Brother  of  the  Pastor  elect,  Mr  E. 
Parish  of  Byfield,  Newbury,  the  ordaining  prayer  by  Mr  Cleveland  of 
Ipswich,  the  Charge  after  ordination  by  Mr  Forbes  of  Cape  Ann. 
The  prayer  after  the  Charge  by  Mr  Dana  of  Ipswich,  &  the  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowship  was  given  by  Mr  MacKeen.  The  Services  were 
performed  with  decency,  &  listened  toby  the  people  with  great  good 
order.  After  dinner  to  accomodate  my  frenchman  I  went  to  Cape 
Ann,  in  company  with  the  second  son  of  Col.  Pierce,  who  had  been  in 
France  &  conversed  with  my  pupil.  We  were  received  with  the 
hospitality  of  the  place.  We  took  Tea  at  Col.  Pearce's.  His  wife  is 
a  plain  domestic  woman,  out  of  health.     Mrs  Williams,    a   daughter 


REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  57 

whose  husband  is  in  the  E.  Indies,  lives  with  them  with  three  children. 
Mrs  Beach,  an  other  daughter,  whose  husband  is  in  England,  who  is 
yet  in  the  vigour  of  life,  gave  us  her  company,  &  rendered  herself 
very  agreable.  After  supper  I  went  to  Esqr  Rogers'  and  lodged  with 
him. 

5.  Breakfasted  with  Col.  Pearce,  &  after  breakfast  went  with 
him  to  see  his  Spermaceti  works,  his  Distillery  and  the  numerous 
artisans  whom  he  employs.  That  morning  arrived  a  shallop  from  the 
Bay,  out  48  hours,  which  brought  in  several  hundred  fish,  &  were  in 
the  act  of  preparing  them  for  the  flakes.  We  then  went  to  Mrs 
Beach's.  They  are  preparing  their  gardenwhich  is  rather  too  narrow 
but  of  considerable  length,  &  which  will  be  excellent  when  finished. 
In  the  middle  is  a  fine  fish  pond.  On  the  north  side  is  the  Rope  walk 
in  fine  order  layed  in  a  bed  of  clay.  In  the  mansion,  which  I  have 
repeatedly  visited,  we  have  in  the  great  entry  &  chambers  elegantly 
in  frames  &  glass  all  the  representations  &  cuts  of  Cooke's  Voyages, 
besides  a  full  portrait  of  Capt  Beach  upon  an  eminence,  with  a  paint- 
ing of  the  death  of  Hector.  At  the  Father's  we  have  an  Italian  view 
taken  from  a  painting  in  the  Pamphili  palace  at  Rome,  richly  coloured. 
Mrs  Beach  afterwards  favoured  us  with  her  company  at  dinner.  She 
is  a  fine  woman.  I  visited  Charles  Rogers  &  saw  his  fine  wife.  At 
two  we  set  out  upon  our  return,  after  many  promises  of  another 
visit,  &  reached  Manchester.  There  we  heard  of  the  intentions  of  Mr 
Toppan  of  Newbury,  son  of  the  former  minister,  to  preach  a  lecture 
in  the  evening.  His  fame  being  great,  &  I  never  having  heard  him, 
I  consented  to  tarry,  &  was  obliged  to  offer  the  last  prayer  of  the 
service.  The  first  time  I  ever  spoke  in  a  Meeting  House  by  candle 
light.  The  sermon  on  Abraham's  offering  up  Isaac  was  meritorious. 
We  lodged  at  Mrs.  Hannah  Lee's. 

6.  After  Breakfast  returned  to  Salem  &  arrived  at  1/2  past  8. 

*         *         #         *         #         #         *         * 

May  15,  1792.  Rode  with  Miss  N.  B.  into  Danvers,  where  we  spent 
an  agreable  day  with  a  pleasing  company  of  Country  Lasses.  We 
walked,  we  sung,  we  played,  &  time  never  hung  heavy  upon  our 
hands.  We  saw  the  good  Parson  planting  opposite  to  his  house. 
The  head  of  the  family  was  taken  in  distress  &  adopted,  &  does  not 


58  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

know  his  parentage.  The  Children  are  of  three  sorts,  &  are  inter- 
marrying, as  the  present  is  a  third  wife,  &  the  wives  had  children 
by  other  husbands.  A  Mrs  W.  was  with  us,  who  married  a  young 
Carpenter  by  occupation,  who  went  with  an  associate,  her  present 
husband,  to  Carolina,  &  made  an  agreement  that  should  he  die  first, 
the  other  should  take  his  widow.  After  his  death  his  friend  sent 
the  account  with  the  agreement,  &  he  is  now  married.  He  enter- 
tained us  with  some  sentimental  songs.  There  was  a  raising  in  the 
neighborhood  this  afternoon,  which  prevented  us  from  the  company 
of  the  Parson.  The  river  running  from  Reading  to  Ipswich  passes 
near  this  house.  We  were  decently  mired  in  looking  for  Cranberries. 
We  reached  Salem  at  nine  in  the  evening. 


June  22,  1792.  By  invitation  from  Mr  Derby  the  Clergy  spent  this 
afternoon  at  the  Farm  in  Danvers.  We  were  regaled  at  our  arrival, 
after  the  best  liquors  at  the  house,  with  a  feast  in  his  Strawberry 
beds.  They  were  in  excellent  order,  &  great  abundance.  He  measured 
a  berry,  which  was  2  inches  1/2  in  circumference.  We  saw 
whole  nurseries  of  Trees,  such  as  Buttons,  fruit  trees,  &  the  Mulberry, 
of  the  last  we  had  from  him  the  following  account.  He  takes  the 
fruit  very  ripe,  dries  it,  then  pulverises  it,  &  sows  it  in  rows,  as  other 
small  seed,  &  it  grows  above  an  inch  the  first  year,  &  in  five  years, 
is  eight  &  ten  feet  high  by  transplanting.  This  garden  is  much  im- 
proved since  I  was  here  last.  We  saw  Potatoes  called  early,  brought 
from  the  Nova  Scotia,  &  upon  opening  the  hills,  they  were  large  as 
eggs  at  the  present  time.  The  slugs  &  worms  do  injury  to  his  fruit. 
Besides  the  garden  we  saw  a  great  variety  of  animal  life.  The 
Swan,  a  stranger  among  us,  from  Virginia.  The  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
Sheep  with  their  remarkable  tails,  weighing  5  pounds,  &  used  by 
the  inhabitants  as  butter,  but  of  very  delicate  fat.  The  Garden  is 
on  our  right  as  we  went  westerly  from  the  house,  &  the  barns,  nurs- 
ery, &c.  on  the  left.  We  went  down  to  the  New  farm,  where  we  saw 
in  pleasing  contentment  some  old  domestic  servants  enjoying  at  ease 
the  remainder  of  their  clays.     As  our  company  was  mixt,  we  had  not 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  59 

much  familiar  conversation.  The  German  Gardner*  is  yet  upon  the 
Farm.  At  Coffee  we  had  excellent  radishes,  bread,  &  butter,  & 
cheese  from  the  Farm.  The  Cheese  equal  to  any  in  Europe.  A  pair 
of  fine  Horses  carried  the  waggon  to  the  Farm,  &  gave  an  unusual 
stateliness  to  the  conveyance.  Return  at  Sundown.  Mr  Derby  re- 
ceived us  with  all  that  attention,  &  bounty,  which  gratify, while  they 
distroy  not  the  affections.  We  envied  nothing  but  his  liberality  to 
us,  because  we  wished  to  do  the  same  things. 

March  5,  1793.  This  day  being  the  day  on  which  the  Tyrian 
Lodge  at  Cape  Ann  meets,  I  determined  to  persevere  tho*  the  weather 
was  foul,  to  accomplish  the  business  of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  Essex. 
The  roads  were  bad,  &  after  the  civilities  of  Manchester,  the  French 
Gentleman,  who  accompanied  me,  dined  with  me  at  Major  Craft's, 
the  public  house.  After  dinner,  through  this  horrible  road  we  con- 
tinued on  to  Cape  Ann,  where  we  arrived  in  the  afternoon.  I  could 
not  refrain  from  observing  that  the  appearance  was  very  different 
from  that  the  Town  assumes  from  the  confluence  of  Strangers  on 
public  festivals  &  days  of  rejoicing.  There  was  too  much  complain- 
ing for  a  belief  of  a  general  content.  In  the  evening  I  was  conduct- 
ed to  the  Lodge  convened  in  an  upper  chamber,  by  a  Committee,  & 
received  with  every  civility.  With  the  utmost  coolness  I  waved  every 
dispute,  &  proposed  the  object  of  my  conference,  a  permanent  union 
of  interests  in  the  present  Grand  Lodge.  They  then  chose  a  Com- 
mittee of  five  persons,  &  ordered  the  Secretary  to  report  their  pro- 
ceedings to  the  Grand  Lodge.  This  Committee  is  to  deliberate  on 
the  subject,  &  report  to  the  Lodge  their  opinion.  We  then  had  an 
elegant  Collation,  &  after  supper  some  choice  songs,  &  retired. 

6.  This  day  was  spent  in  visits  to  Revd  Forbes,  the  Rogers,  Pierces, 
&c.  Mr  Beach  introduced  me  to  his  Brother,  arrived  with  his  family 
from  Bristol,  a  Tobacconist,  an  intelligent  man,  &  furnished  with  a 
very  good  Library,  from  which  he  spared  for  my  perusal  Martin's 
diet,  of  Natural  History,  ornamented  with  figures  highly  coloured. 

♦George  Heussler,  a  German  who  previously  had  been  at  the  Tracy  estate  at 
Newburyport  and  was  "the  first  man  who  ever  lived  in  Salem  in  the  character  of 
a  regularly  bred  gardener." 


60  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

We  were  received  in  the  best  manner  at  Captain  Beach's ;  &  he  de- 
serves our  gratitude.  We  saw  here  specimens  of  the  Cornwall  ores. 
After  dinner  we  went  with  Mr  Rogers  to  see  his  farm  of  300  acres  at 
eastern  Point.  Mr  Rowe,  the  Attorney,  &  Son  in  Law  of  Mr  Rogers 
accompanied  us.  The  road  was  horrible,  &  my  young  companion 
after  travelling  across  the  neck  to  view  the  Thatcher's  Island  lights 
accompanied  me  into  the  Town  on  foot,  both  of  us  dreading  to  ride 
back  through  such  dangerous  passes.  In  the  evening  there  was  an 
assembly,  at  which  my  young  companion  attended.  He  gave  me  a 
very  humorous  account.  They  had  six  candles,  12  ladies,  7  gentle- 
men, a  black  fiddler  for  2s.  &  a  fifer  for  Is.  6.  Both  sexes  partook 
of  the  grog  provided  on  the  occasion. 

7.  In  the  morning  we  breakfasted  at  Mr  Beach's  &  we  had  the 
company  of  the  two  English  young  Ladies,  Daughters  of  Mr  Beach 
of  Bristol.  The  greatest  propriety  distinguished  this  social  hour. 
At  10,  we  left  Cape  Ann  &  reached  Manchester,  &  dined,  &  at  2 
o'clock  arrived  again  at  Salem.  We  were  told  at  Cape  Ann,  that 
they  could  with  difficulty  provide  hands  for  their  bankers,*  from  the 
general  persuasion  that  the  Bay  boats  were  more  lucrative,  &  from 
observing  the  success  of  Sandy  Bay,  Squam,  &  Chebacco.  Beach's 
rope  walk  was  in  great  good  order.  Sergeant's  now  shut  up,  it  is 
said,  is  sold  to  D.  Plummer.  Pearce  has  had  several  good  Whale 
voyages,  &  a  Ship  lay  ready  to  sail  for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  He 
expects  to  set  his  Sperma  Ceti  works  agoing  again.  His  distillery 
has  stopped,  during  the  winter.  The  Meeting  House  is  repaired. 
*        *        *        *         *        *        #        * 

March  19,  1793.  It  having  rained  in  the  morning,  I  delayed  set- 
ting out  for  Newbury  Port  till  eleven,  &  upon  the  road  was  informed 
that  the  funeral  of  the  Revd  J.  Murray,  of  Newbury  Port,  would  be 
attended  this  evening.  The  roads  were  as  bad,  as  they  ever  are,  & 
after  having  dined  at  Ipswich  I  could  not  reach  Newbury  Port  till 
after  4  o'clock.  Upon  my  arrival  I  found  the  people  in  the  Meeting 
House,  &  with  difficulty  heard  the  close  of  the  last  prayer,  &  the 
Singing.  I  was  informed  that  the  first  prayer  was  by  Dr  Langdon, 
of  Hampton,  the  Address  by  Mr  Whittimore  of  Stratham,  &  the  last 

*The  Grand  Banks  fishing  fleet. 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY  IN   1787~1799.  61 

prayer  by  Mr  Morrison  of  Londonderry-  The  order  of  the  day  was 
read  from  the  pulpit  by  Mr  Tombe,  now  preaching  in  the  Congrega- 
tion. After  service  the  procession  formed  for  the  Burial  ground,  in 
which  Mr  Murray  requested  to  be  interred,  rather  than  in  the  Tomb 
under  the  Pulpit  with  Mr  Whitefield,  Parsons  &  Prince.  The  easy 
access  to  it,  had  rendered  it  exposed  to  indecent  freedoms  which  dis- 
gusted him.  In  the  procession  first  went  the  Church,  Deacons,  & 
Elders,  &  the  Clergy  present  on  the  occasion.  Then  the  corps  sup- 
ported by  young  men  of  the  Congregation,  &  the  pall  supported  by 
Dr  Langdon,  Dr  Bass,  Dr  Haven,  McClintock,  Mr  Euwer,  &  Mr  Mor- 
rison. Then  followed  the  relations  &  friends.  Above  350  couple 
were  in  the  procession  &  crowds  in  the  street.  Above  6,000  people 
were  collected  on  the  occasion.  After  the  service  I  spent  the  evening 
agreably  &  lodged  at  Doctor  Swett's.  Dr  Swett  assured  me  that  Mr 
Murray  discovered  firmness  till  the  close  of  life,  spent  the  time  in  ex- 
horting his  friends,  who  crowded  round  his  dying  bed,  &  could  not  be 
prevented  by  the  most  earnest  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  &  the 
physicians.  Mr  Murray  gave  them  to  sing  in  his  house  the  33  &  75 
Hymns  of  the  2d  Book,  Watts. 

20.  After  breakfast  with  Capt  Noyes  I  rode  up  to  the  bridge  over 
the  Merrimack,  &  confess  myself  much  pleased  with  plan  &  the  ob- 
ject. The  execution  is  equal  to  the  design.  The  proportions  I  had 
already  seen.  The  Island  may  be  rendered  delightful  &  there  is  a 
public  House  already  erected  by  the  proprietors  of  the  Bridge  upon 
the  Island,  &  it  is  nearly  finished.  As  yet  it  has  produced  nearly 
double  to  the  simple  interest  of  the  money,  but  how  far  curiosity,  & 
the  openness  of  the  winter,  by  which  the  ice  has  been  impassable, 
may  come  into  the  account,  cannot  yet  be  determined.  I  returned 
&  dined  in  company  with  the  Mr  Traceys,  &  Jackson  &  Dr  Swett, 
with  Col.  Wigglesworth.  He  is  a  hospitable  man,  sui  generis.  His 
little  daughter  gave  us  some  pleasing  specimens  of  her  music  in  sing- 
ing. In  the  evening  we  visited  St  Peter's  Lodge.  The  reception  was 
kind.  The  tables  diagonally  placed,  the  company  too  numerous  for 
the  tables,  the  room  badly  illuminated.  The  lodge  was  opened  & 
closed  with  Prayer.  The  Master  M.  Gale.  Spent  evening  at  Dr 
Swetts  with  some  french  company. 


62  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

21.  Breakfasted  with  Mr  J.  Tracey,  spent  Morning  with  Mr  Jackson 
&  Dr  Bass,  &  rode  to  the  Academy*  &  dined  with  the  Preceptor. 
The  road  was  very  bad,  &  clayey,  &  a  violent  snow  storm  came  on 
which  lasted  all  day.  The  Academy  is  much  repaired,  a  new  white 
balustrade  fence  is  before  the  Mansion  House.  The  Old  School  built 
for  M.  Moody,  &  since  a  writing  school,  is  neglected.  It  contains  only 
the  great  desk  provided  by  Mr  Moody  for  the  Academy  chamber, 
which  is  now  cleared  for  exhibitions.  There  are  about  20  youth  at 
the  Academy,  &  the  Preceptor  is  a  man  of  great  diligence.  He  usu- 
ally preaches  in  the  Academy  on  Sundays.  In  the  evening  I  was  re- 
ceived at  Swasey's  Tavern  by  a  Committee  from  the  Unity  Lodge  in 
Ipswich.  The  members  present  were  the  Master  Col.  Wade,  the  Sec- 
retary Major  Burnham,  &  Major  Swasey,  &  Capt.  Dodge.  They  rep- 
resented their  Lodge  as  having  only  12  members  &  seemed  more  re- 
tarded by  the  smallness  of  their  numbers  than  any  other  cause.  In 
the  war  their  members  exceeded  forty.  Capt.  Dodge  was  with  me 
in  the  Convention,  &  still  seemed  wounded  with  the  idea  of  working 
under  modern  masons,  an  idea  which  had  been  expressed  with  some 
warmth^  by  B.  Boardman,  past  Master,  in  St  Peter's  Lodge.  It  was 
agreed  £o  give  me  Letters  A  I  found  afterwards  to  pay  my  expenses. 
We  supped  together,  &  I  enjoyed  the  Company  of  a  very  respectable 
Committee. 

22.  Rose  early,  &  after  breakfast  returned  home.  The  roads 
very  bad.  Newbury  Port  is  evidently  flourishing.  Many  new  houses 
in  high  Street ;  &  Stores  opening  on  account  of  the  position  of  the 
Bridge  three  miles  above  the  Town.  Several  french  families  here, 
&  a  greater  number  of  emigrants  than  in  any  other  place  except 
Boston.  Great  West  India  Trade.  The  Anabaptists,  &  Miltonians 
are  preparing  for  a  harvest  upon  the  death  of  Mr  Murray,  who 
united  the  lower  classes  of  people.  Mr  Bancroft  has  resigned  the 
Town  Grammar  School,  &  Master  Rogers  has  engaged  to  enter  upon 
it  next  Monday.  He  engaged  with  the  greatest  prepossessions  in 
his  favour.  He  ha9  taught  writing  &  reading,  &  therefore  he  certain- 
ly can  teach  Latin,  &  Greek.  The  teaching  by  Duncan's  Cicero,  & 
Davidson's  Virgil  is  so  common,  said  the  Preceptor  of  Dummer  Acad- 

*Dummer  Academy  at  Byfield  Parish. 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799.  63 

emy  to  me,  that  no  other  School  Books  are  to  be  found.  The  Select 
Orations  of  Tully,  without  a  version  cannot  be  purchased.  The  new 
way  is  taught  at  the  Andover  Academy. 


April  23,  1793.  Set  off  for  Tewkesbury  to  visit  my  old  Landlady. 
Did  not  easily  recollect  the  road  in  Danvers,  which  turned  off  1  1/2 
mile  to  the  left,  &  again  about  3  miles  at  a  house  projecting  at  the 
angle.  Keeping  to  the  right  directly.  After  stopping  at  the  Widow 
Upton's  found  the  left  hand  direct  road,  the  highest,  not  the  best,  & 
when  I  came  within  sight  of  the  precinct  Meeting  house  of  Reading, . 
I  turned  to  the  right  &  came  out  by  the  meeting  house,  when  70  rods 
nearer,  I  might  have  kept  on  &  come  out  at  the  public  house,  1/2  a 
mile  beyond  the  Meeting  House.  After  having  passed  Wilmington 
above  a  mile  past  Esqr  Ford's  on  turning  to  the  right  I  passed  be- 
tween the  House  &  Barn  which  were  the  second  on  the  road,  then 
kept  to  the  left,  &  upon  passing  the  Shawshin  rode  upon  the  banks 
of  the  River  to  the  Mills  &  to  Boardman's.  After  dinner  I  rode  on 
to  Andover  through  Tewkesbury  woods.  It  is  five  miles  from  Board- 
man's  to  the  South  Meeting.  The  road  direct.  Some  danger  of 
turning  to  the  right.  Passed  the  Shawshin  below  the  south  meet- 
ing house,  which  was  then  a  beautiful  stream.  I  stopped  at  the 
meeting  House  lately  finished  &  obtained  entrance.  The  exterior 
appearance  is  the  best.  The  house  is  crowded  within  &  has  no  pleas- 
ing appearance  from  the  proportions.  It  has  a  pendant  canopy,  & 
an  inscription  over  the  pulpit.  Holiness  becomes  thy  house  O  Lord, 
forever.  The  communion  Table  is  in  what  we  called  the  Elder's 
seat.  So  that  we  find  the  desenters  begin  to  inclose  &  we  are  told 
as  to  the  discipline  they  enclose  in  this  place  with  a  vengeance.  The 
way  to  mount  the  Tower  is  not  convenient.  The  Bell  is  in  the  Tower, 
&  too  much  enclosed.  It  is  a  fine  Bell,  &  is  the  gift  of  Samuel  Abbot 
Esqr  whose  name  is  upon  it  with  this  Inscription.  To  all  the  people 
I  do  call,  &  to  the  grave  do  summon  all.  It  is  deep  toned,  &  excel- 
lent. The  lantern,  as  it  is  called,  upon  the  dome  has  not  so  good  an 
effect,  as  I  should  have  wished  for  so  much  expence.  There  are  a 
number  of  fine  houses  in  the  great  road  which. have  a  fine  effect  up- 
on the  Traveller,  &  astonish  him  noticeably  with  the  idea  of  ease  by 


64  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 


affluence.     The  farms  have  great  neatness,  &  convenience.     I  then 
went   on   to   Mr  Isaac  Parker's  &  Col.   Lovejoy's   at  the   entrance 
of  a  Lane  about  1/4  of  a  mile  on  the  south  side  of  the  South  Meet- 
ing House.     I  found  in  one  a  good  farmer  &  in  the  other  a  very  at- 
tentive  Gentleman.     The  farmer   has  everything   in  order   around 
him,  &  much  of  that  facetiousness  which  makes  the  most  laborious 
employment  set  easy.     He  has  a  wife  &  four  very  young  daughters 
very  agreeable.     The  family  were  baptised  by  me  last  fall.     An  aged 
father,  trembling  with  the  palsy  in  the  limbs,  &  helpless,  with  a  good 
countenance  bore   ample  testimony   by  his  language  &  appearance 
to  the  fidelity   of  his  children.     He   had  been  an  old    soldier  in  the 
french   wars  &  had  a  very  open,   &  engaging   look.     The   son  had 
been  in  the  American  naval  service  in  the  last  Civil  war  of  America. 
At  this  house,  which  is  furnished  with  a  large  chamber,  this  evening 
a  company   of  20  couple   were  to  assemble  for  dancing  &   amuse- 
ment.    They  visit  this  house  for  these  purposes  in  classes,  accord- 
ing to  their  ages,   not  with  any  regard   to  their   condition,  as  in  the 
Seaport   Towns.     They   seperated   at  the   usual   hours   of  Assem- 
blies.    They  have  Violins  &  flutes  for  their  music,  &  sometimes  the 
drum.     For  the  convenience   of  Lodging   after  Tea   I  went  to  Col. 
Lovejoy's.     He  conducted   me  to  the   North  meeting   house,   which 
was  built  40  years  ago.     The  order  of  the  Door  has  not  that  appear- 
ance which  the  improvements   in  architecture  would  give  it  at  this 
day.     The  hipped  roof  of  the  Porch  I  prefer  to  the  pediment  of  the 
new  House.     The  steeple  is  too  small  as  it  rises  from  the  dome,  but 
the  ill  effect  has  been  lessened  since  the  late  repairs  by  diminishing 
the  shaft  above.     The  interior  view  of  this  house  from  the  conven- 
ience  of  parts  makes   it  look  larger   than  the  other   house,   &  it  is 
much  better  finished  throughout.  The  swell  of  the  pulpit  is  not  suffici- 
ently large  but  the  whole  has  a  good  effect.     They  have  a  clock  up- 
on the  front  gallery,  &  a  very  excellent  one  in  the  Steeple  with  point- 
ers.    The  pendulum  is  not  hung  with  ease,   but  the  clock  is   good. 
The  bell  of  about  500  Wt  is  sharp  &  clear,  a  good  tone.     We  returned 
to  the  Col's  &  after  familiar  chat  we  retired  in  good  season. 

24.     This  morning   we  rose  &   rode  3  miles   towards   the   river. 
Then  walked  to  the. place  intended  for  the  New  Bridge,  &  for  which 


REV.  WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  65 

the  Banks  are  cut  down  to  move  the  Timber,  &  here  we  saw  the 
people  on  each  side  seining  for  Salmon  &  other  fish.  We  saw  a  1000 
alewives  caught  in  one  draught.  They  had  taken  one  salmon  of  20 
wt:  pick[er]el,  shad,  suckers,  &c.  Their  method  was  in  a  flat  boat 
of  about  14  feet  in  length,  &  three  in  breadth  with  a  wide  stern,  up- 
on  which  is  a  table  for  the  seine,  which  is  furnished  with  scuppers 
to  void  the  water.  With  this  they  go  up  the  eddy  formed  by  a  pro- 
jection of  rocks  &  logs  into  the  river,  &  then  row  violently  into  the 
stream  [and]  discharge  the  net  from  the  stern.  On  the  shore  two 
men  hold  the  rope  fastened  to  the  seine  &  begin  instantly  to  draw 
down.  The  men  in  the  boat  quicken  the  motion  of  the  boat  in  the 
stream  till  the  whole  seine  is  drawn  from  the  boat  &  then  make  to- 
wards the  shore,  the  rope  from  the  boat  to  the  seine  being  about  3 
times  the  length  of  the  boat,  as  is  the  length  of  the  wood,  which 
forms  the  eddy.  The  men  on  the  shore  continue  to  draw  down  till 
they  have  come  within  100  feet  of  the  boatmen,  &  then  draw  the 
ends  of  the  seine  upon  the  shore.  Then  they  pull  up  the  seine,  clear- 
ing it  as  it  comes  up  within  a  few  feet  of  the  shore.  Then  they  rest 
a  few  minutes  till  the  fish  cease  their  furious  slapping  in  the  water, 
&  then  they  empty  the  seine,  &  begin  again.  The  Seine  is  about 
100  feet  long.  It  is  sunk  at  bottom  by  the  leads,  &  floated  at  top 
by  wooden  buoys,  2  feet  distance.  The  intertexture  of  the  lines  is 
called  the  Marish.  The  middle  of  this  seine  was  of  the  alewife 
marish,  of  a  smaller  texture  than  the  other  parts.  We  received  a 
dozen  of  the  alewives  from  the  fishermen,  who  sold  them  at  2s/  pr. 
100,  or  as  caught  in  the  brooks,  by  the  order  of  the  Town,  at  a  pistar- 
een.  The  vote  of  the  Town  last  year  was  that  a  committee  should 
be  chosen  to  fish  in  the  brooks  at  the  Town  charge,  &  the  fish  were 
to  be  delivered  at  a  pistareen  pr.  100.  We  left  the  river  &  then  rode 
through  the  woods,  which  are  of  pine  shrubs,  &  exhibit  a  melancholy 
contrast  to  the  other  parts  of  the  town.  The  buildings,  the  inhabi- 
tants, &  the  animals,  all  shew  the  unfavourable  soil  upon  which  they 
are  employed.  After  a  zigzag  ride  of  four  miles,  repeatedly  crossing 
the  sweet  stream  of  the  Shawshin,  which  here  finished  its  course  in 
the  Merrimack,  we  arrived  at  the  Paper  Mills  erected  upon  this  river, 
&  found  them  in  great  order.     The  vats  below,  the  two  mills  above, 


66  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

the  conveyance  of  the  water,  the  various  employments  of  the  persons 
at  work,  of  both  sexes,  gave  pleasing  entertainment.  The  drying 
rooms  were  large,  &  convenient  upon  every  account.  The  powder 
mills  were  a  novel  sight,  upon  the  construction  of  Fulling  mills  as  to 
the  motion  given  to  the  pestles  in  the  mortars,  by  levers  from  the 
axis  of  the  wheel.  We  then  passed  the  S.  Meeting  towards  home, 
which  we  reached  at  noon.  We  dined  on  Salmon,  &  the  Alewives 
were  received  &  the  alewives  fresh  made  no  mean  entertainment  at 
the  Col's  Table.  We  were  much  indebted  undoubtedly  to  the  Cook, 
who  excelled  on  the  occasion.  After  dinner  I  returned  through 
Boxford  &  Topsfleld  to  Salem,  which  tho'  of  a  distance  much  greater 
than  on  the  roads  by  Reading  or  Middleton,  amply  compensated  me 
by  the  goodness  of  the  roads,  the  fine  farms,  the  beautiful  landscapes, 
ponds  &  rivers.  At  Topsfleld  I  spent  an  hour  in  chearful  chat  in  a 
wedding  house  where  the  minister,  Lawyer,  squire,  &c.  were  assem- 
bled, the  men  in  one  room,  &  their  wives  in  another,  the  men  having 
the  best  room,  &  all  the  attendance.  For  my  amusement  besides 
anecdotes,  &c.  I  was  furnished  with  several  late  publications  of  the 
ministers  in  this  neighbourhood  which  informs  us  pf  the  state  of  this 
order  which  has  so  much  influence  on  society.  Bradford  of  Rowley, 
Sermon  at  the  Ord.  of  his  Brother  forms  the  clerical  character  upon 
the  cant  term  of  "experience"  which  will  admit  of  many  consequen- 
ces, being  explained  only  by  inward  light.  Dutch  of  Bradford,  at  the 
dedication  of  his  new  Meeting  House,  taking  as  his  text  the  gold  letters 
over  his  pulpit,  uO  worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holiness,"  runs 
along  in  a  muddy  stream,  till  he  unburdens  himself  with  the  account 
of  the  oblivion  of  the  old  house,  which  should  teach  them  to  put  into 
the  bottomless  pit;  the  same;  their  old  man,  not  the  old  minister  who 
was  already  dead.  Williams  of  Methuen  has  offered  to  the  world  his 
farewell  sermons,  after  a  most  bitter  dissention.  He  is  a  son  of  an 
old  Presbyterian  Willians,  natives  of  Ireland  &  the  father  often  de- 
ranged. The  dispute  began  about  a  Wood  lot  of  the  Parsonage  &  a 
challenge  from  the  pulpit  at  a  weekly  Lecture,  which  one  of  the  par- 
ishioners accepted.  The  parson  seems  to  wish  them  well,  but  is 
terribly  inveterate  against  a  class  of  illiterate  ministers,  &  a  class 
called  Hopkintonians,  tho'  not  here  named.     Neither  of  these  per- 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY  IN   1787~1799.  67 

formances  contribute  much  to  prove  the  clergy  enlightened,  simple 
in  the  ideas,  or  sweet  in  their  tempers.  The  inscription  upon  their 
Houses  is  not  in  the  style  of  sentiment  of  the  New  England  settlers, 
&  proves  infallibly,  that  the  Catholic  Church  is  formed  of  materials 
existing  in  the  constitution  of  human  nature,  as  connected  with 
certain  states  of  society.  The  I.  H.  S.  on  the  front  of  the  S.  Pulpit 
in  Andover  may  well  express  in  Humanitate  Sum.  In  drawing 
comparisons  nothing  can  be  said  in  favour  of  these  men,  as  in  their 
office,  in  regard  to  society,  we  see,  morals  will  make  the  worst  opin- 
ions harmless. 

The  situation  of  Andover  being  elevated  there  are  fine  prospects 
from  its  hills,  &  the  view  of  the  Town  is  opened  in  every  part,  & 
beautifully  diversified.  There  are  seven  bridges  over  the  Shawshin, 
which  is  nearly  of  the  same  width  &  depth  through  the  Town  of 
Andover.  It  is  said  to  rise  in  Lexington.  Seems  as  large  in  Tewkes- 
bury as  at  its  mouth,  &  being  deep  in  its  bed,  &  confined,  is  subject 
to  sudden  flows.  It  is  about  20  feet  wide,  &  from  2  to  6  deep,  where 
it  is  not  obstructed.  The  Town  of  Andover  is  much  cut  up  by  roads. 
The  poverty  of  the  Land  towards  the  Merrimac  prevents  this  from 
being  a  great  evil  in  that  quarter.  The  Shawshin  rises  &  falls  10 
feet  in  12  hours,  &  the  bridges  are  high  upon  that  account,  but  too 
narrow,  an  evil  from  being  a  Town  charge.  There  is  not  much  fish- 
ing in  this  river,  which  is  obstructed  by  the  Mills  built  upon  it.  I 
saw  some  children  with  scoop  nets  amusing  themselves.  I  found 
my  friend  Boardman  has  detached  his  interest  from  Mr  Simons,  re- 
nouncing all  right  in  the  house  near  the  mills  &  the  lands,  &  giving 
up  the  Mills  saw  &  grist  mills  upon  the  Shawshin  for  an  annual  quit 
rent  of  50  bushels  of  grain  during  Boardman's  life.  They  have  set- 
tled a  Mr  Barton  at  Tewkesbury.  Madam  Boardman  has  passed  her 
80th  year.  The  land  is  in  general  poor  in  the  Town  of  Tewkesbury. 
Salmon  here  at  /5d  a  pound.  As  to  the  Cultivation  of  Andover,  I 
found  at  Col.  Lovejoy's  that  he  had  the  reputation  of  the  greatest 
quantity  of  English  Hay,  &  that  Mr  Parker  had  preserved  excellent 
wood  upon  his  farm.  Among  the  elegant  houses,  the  one  which 
meets  us  coming  into  the  great  road  from  Tewkesbury,  belonging  to 
one   Poor,    a  Tanner,  is  not  the  least  elegant.     There   are   several 


68  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

Physicians  in  the  Town,  among  whom  Kitteridge  is  distinguished  by 
his  elegant  situation,  agreeable  manners,  &  extensive  practice.  The 
minister  in  the  south  parish  asserts  the  rigour  of  his  predecessor, 
&  supports  the  character  of  the  last  age  of  American  manners.  The 
influence  of  example  is  every  day  increasing.  He  decides  upon  the 
secular  concerns  of  his  church  agreably  to  the  antient  rigour.  The 
most  aged  minister  in  this  vicinity,  Mr  Morrill,  is  approaching  to 
the  end  of  a  long  life  by  means  of  a  Cancer  in  the  Mouth.  He  has 
been  subjected  to  great  mortifications  for  Arminianism,  a  charge 
which  implies  liberal  enquiry,  &  popular  prejudice,  &  stands  for  any- 
thing unhappy  in  a  man's  situation.  I  returned  to  Salem  with  St 
Cyprian's  works,  &  a  bunch  of  sweet  Thyme  for  the  Ladies,  &  so 
ended  a  short  journey  in  which  the  roads  were  in  the  best  order,  & 
the  weather  the  finest  conceivable.     I  rode  without  surtout. 

•f?  5f?  Sf*  Jj*  5J»  5fC  2JC  «fC 

April  27,  1794.  Sunday.  Went  this  morning  on  an  exchange  to 
Boxford,  South  Parish.  The  Rev.  Holyoke  is  disabled  by  a  paralytic 
stroke.  I  took  the  road,  leaving  Topsfield  meeting  on  the  right,  & 
after  3/4  of  a  mile  took  the  right  hand  through  a  road  which  did  not 
seem  to  be  much  used,  &  which  was  but  poorly  settled  from  a  visible 
cause,  the  poverty  of  the  soil.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Holyoke  &  his  family 
received  me  kindly.  His  wife  is  agreable.  An  only  daughter  at 
home  gave  us  her  company  in  modest  silence.  The  meeting  house 
is  small,  well  painted,  without  spire  or  bell,  &  the  congregation  made 
a  very  decent  appearance  throughout.  A  Mr  Adams  from  New 
Rowley,  an  adjoining  vacant  parish  gave  us  his  company  at  dinner, 
&  told  us  the  Anabaptist  minister  had  also  left  from  the  circulation 
of  some  reports  respecting  his  immodest  freedoms.  This  is  the  third 
seperation  of  these  amorous  zealots  in  the  County  since  I  have  lived 
in  it,  besides  other  uneasiness  from  the  same  cause  with  men  of  the 
same  character. 

JfC  ^C  9|t  JfC  5jC  ^  1$  3f3 

May  21,  1794.  This  day  I  visited  Marblehead,  with  intention  to 
examine  the  Neck  which  forms  their  harbour,  but  not  having  even 
my  compass  I  was  obliged  to  content  myself  with  a  very  superficial 
survey.  Revd  Messieurs  Story  &  Hubbard  accompanied  me.  We 
travelled  near  the  shore  from  the  high  rocks  before  the  Town  called 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  69 

Bartold's  head,  leaving  below  us  the  new  wharves.  Above  were  the 
old  wharves  called  Nickes  cove  wharf.  We  then  passed  Waldron's 
cove  &  reached  Skinner's  Head,  &  cove,  &  then  red  stone  cove,  &  then 
rotten  Cove,  &  then  Whale  cove,  &  came  to  Euit's  head,  &  came  to 
the  Sea  bank  called  river's  head.  We  passed  on  the  outer  side,  &  on 
the  further  part  saw  the  new  works  erected  from  the  late  Lottery, 
against  which  the  public  has  so  much  complained.  We  found  the 
Stones  thrown  up  at  considerable  height  as  we  approached  the  Neck. 
The  tide  being  up,  most  of  the  rocks  which  lay  off  towards  Ram 
Island  were  hidden,  &  those  which  lay  between  the  neck  &  Tinker's 
Island.  We  reached  the  Western  point,  &  from  the  headland,  had 
an  elevation  which  opened  Tinker's  Island,  so  as  to  shew  the  passage 
the  Sea  has  between  the  parts  of  it.  We  continued  our  walk  on  the 
outer  side  of  the  Neck,  which  has  rocky  head,  &  beaches  between 
as  on  the  Shore  of  the  Towns  tho'  not  of  so  great  elevation,  except- 
ing about  the  middle  of  the  neck,  which  is  supposed  to  extend  half  a 
mile  in  a  straight  line,  but  must  exceed  that  distance.  In  this  dry 
time  we  found  several  places  filled  with  water,  &  the  low  land  in  a 
very  neglected  state.  It  is  said  the  whole  neck  includes  180  acres, 
the  greater  part  of  which  is  pasturage.  Mr  Andrews  who  has  the 
best  House  on  the  Neck,  is  wealthy,  possesses  27  acres,  part  of  which 
lays  in  the  rights  of  the  Common  land,  tho'  each  man  knows  his  spec- 
ial property.  There  are  now  three  dwelling  houses  upon  the  Neck 
besides  their  barns,  &  several  fish  houses.  It  is  said  that  there  ware 
formerly  12  houses,  but  by  the  cellars  they  are  judged  to  have  been 
small,  &  not  to  be  compared  to  these  now  standing.  Mr  Andrews' 
house  was  built  before  the  war,  is  painted  &  in  good  repair  with  out 
houses,  &  excellent  stone  walls.  The  other  houses  are  the  common 
farm  houses  two  stories  with  pitched  roofs.  The  neck  is  widest 
about  2/3  up  toward  the  causeway  westward,  &  it  is  one  mile  1/2 
from  Capt.  Andrews'  House  to  the  New  Meeting  House  in  the  Town 
over  the  Causeway,  about  half  a  mile  across  the  harbour,  which  is 
nearly  of  the  same  width  throughout.  The  point  of  the  Neck  outward 
between  Marblehead  Rock  &  Tinker's  Island  has  rocks  laying  off  called 
Tom  Moore's  Rocks.  The  point  opposite  to  the  fort,  &  which  makes 
the  mouth  of  the  Harbour  is  called  Point  Black  Jack,  &  within  it  is 
formed  a  Cove  called  Carder's  Cove.     The  Fort  was  erected  in  the 


70  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 

last  war  upon  a  Headland  below  the  Town,  &  which  is  never  sep- 
arated at  the  highest  tide  from  the  mainland,  &  beyond  it  lays  Oine 
island,  which  can  be  approached  on  land  only  on  the  ebb.  Above  the 
fort  lays  Ingoll's  beach  upon  which  Leslie  landed  his  troops  at  the 
commencement  of  the  War  in  1775.  The  Harbour  is  not  sheltered 
from  the  east  wind,  &  between  Boden's  point  &  Skinner's  head 
about  1/4  over  is  Boden's  ledge  of  Rocks  upon  which  there  is  in  the 
common  ebb  11/2  fathom  of  water,  &  at  the  lowest  ebb  7  feet. 
They  are  Called  Boden's  Rocks,  but  are  a  real  Ledge  of  some  extent 
&  scattered  round.  I  did  not  have  the  pleasure  of  visiting  Tinker's 
Island,  which  I  was  assured  could  be  visited  from  the  Neck  by  wad- 
ing in  about  3  feet  of  water.  It  has  much  less  land  than  I  thought 
as  viewed  from  the  Neck,  than  I  judged  from  the  Sea.  There  has 
been  one  melancholy  shipwreck  upon  them  since  I  have  lived  in 
Salem.  The  Sunken  rocks  laying  eastward  of  Cat  Island,  called  in 
Salem,  Satan,  are  called  in  Marblehead,  the  Porpusses. 
******** 

Nov.  24,  1794.  Left  Salem  with  Mr  Priestley  on  a  Journey  to  see 
the  new  Bridges  of  this  County.  We  visited  the  Beverly  Manu- 
facture, which  from  the  fruitless  attempt  to  manufacture  cotton  vel- 
vet, &  unfashionable  goods,  is  now  converted  to  the  profitable  busi- 
ness of  Bedticks,  &  the  demand  is  much  beyond  the  ability  of  Mr 
Burnham  to  supply.  60  hands  are  now  employed  in  Beverly  Manu- 
factory. We  reached  Ipswich  &  were  kindly  received  at  Revd  Dana's 
for  whom  we  carried  Letters.  After  viewing  the  New  Court  House 
the  plan  of  which  is  to  be  seen,  tho'  yet  it  is  unfinished,  we  passed  after 
dinner  to  the  Academy  Dummer,  &  spent  an  hour  with  the  worthy 
Preceptor  Smith.  We  had  not  time  to  visit  the  Woolen  Manufactory 
established  three  miles  from  the  Academy,  from  the  shortness  of 
the  Days.  We  spent  the  first  part  of  the  evening  at  Revd  Andrews 
in  company  with  Revd  Carey,  very  agreably,  &  then  went  &  supped 
at  Mr  Jackson's,  &  lodged  at  his  house.  They  have  purchased  an 
elegant  organ  for  the  first  Church,  of  American  manufacture. 

25.  We  spent  the  morning  in  visiting  the  Town.  There  is  a  new 
Meeting  House  built  for  a  number  of  Seceders  from  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  who  have  at  length  settled  a  Mr  Milton,  &  the  Presbyterians 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  71 

have  settled  a  Mr  Dana,  to  whom  we  had  letters  of  address,  &  by 
whom  we  were  kindly  received.  We  visited  the  rope  walks,  which 
were  now  decorated  in  honour  of  Queen  Catharine,  on  a  day  bearing 
the  name  of  a  Saint  Catharine.  We  visited  the  new  Charity  house, 
which  is  a  brick  building,  now  erecting,  &  only  finished  on  the  ground 
floor.  An  entry  passes  through  the  middle  leaving  four  rooms  on 
each  side,  exclusively  of  the  rooms  assigned  for  the  Overseer  at  the 
northern  end.  The  upper  part  is  to  contain  two  large  Rooms  for 
business,  &  for  the  Overseers;  till  they  are  necessary  for  other  pur- 
poses. We  visited  Mr  Parson's,  our  eminent  Lawyer,  &  various  other 
characters,  &  dined  with  Dr  Lovett  in  company  with  the  amiable  Mr 
Jackson,  who  returned  the  visit  to  Dr  Swett,  who  had  breakfasted 
with  us  in  the  morning.  After  dinner  we  took  leave  &  went  towards 
Haverhill.  We  were  advised  to  go  up  Newbury  side  of  the  river  be- 
cause the  road  was  better,  tho'  the  Amsbury  side  was  shorter.  We 
passed  half  a  mile  above  grasshopper  plains,  where  stands  a  meeting 
house,  to  view  the  New  Bridge,  &  returned,  by  a  path  which  short- 
ened our  distance,  to  the  plain  near  the  meeting  house  making  a 
Gore  of  Land.  We  were  advised  to  pass  Cottle's  ferry,  or  at  Brad- 
ford lower  Meeting  at  Bussel's  ferry  but  we  continued  up  till  we 
reached  the  Bridge,  and  it  was  too  late  to  examine  it.  We  spent  an 
agreable  evening  at  Herod's,  &  lodged  that  night  at  his  house.  We 
had  a  pleasing  company  of  Ladies. 

•  26.  In  the  morning,  Mr  Bartlet,  our  high  Sherif,  &  a  candidate 
for  Congress,  who  superintends  the  building  of  the  Bridge,  waited 
upon  us  to  examine  it.  We  found  the  piers  of  Stone,  &  three  arches. 
We  wait  for  a  circumstantial  discription  to  be  assured  of  all  its  pro- 
portions. We  then  had  purposes  of  visiting  the  Bodwell  Bridge  be- 
tween Andover  &  Methuen,  but  the  cold  &  the  wind  in  our  faces 
made  us  relinquish  this  object  as  well  as  the  Canal  at  Patucket  falls, 
&  even  above  at  Goff's  Town,  with  the  Bridges.  We  returned  by 
Boxford  &  Topsfield  to  Salem,  &  arrived  before  Sundown.  Haver- 
hill Bridge  is  563  feet  long,  with  three  Arches  183  feet  each  in  length, 
34  feet  wide,  upon  stone  piers,  &  abutments. 

April  18,  1796.     I  left  Salem  to  go  to  Andover,  to  visit  my  friend 


72  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

Gen.  Fiske,  who  has  been  long  in  that  place  for  the  advantages  of 
the  air,  the  retirement,  and  the  attention  of  Dr  Kitteridge,  who  is 
famous  for  his  success  with  deranged  persons.  When  I  arrived  at 
Stephen's  I  found  the  fishing  Time  had  come  on,  but  the  Fishing  in 
the  brooks  was  by  the  Town,  according  to  Law,  an  exclusive  privi- 
lege in  the  hands  of  a  Committee.  One  of  the  particular  brooks  is 
the  Quochechiuque  which  is  the  outlet  from  the  pond  one  mile  N.  E. 
from  the  Meeting  House  to  the  Merrimac,  being-  about  two  miles 
in  its  course,  passing  the  road  not  a  mile  N.  of  the  N.  Meeting  House. 
The  pond  is  large,  &  of  an  irregular  shape.  It  is  several  miles 
around  it,  but  I  only  saw  it  from  the  Hills.  I  was  upon  the  hill  op- 
posite Frye's  which  I  had  visited  once  before,  &  upon  the  hill  north 
of  it,  between  Fry's  &  the  Pond.  I  did  not  go  to  Wyere  Hill  which 
is  between  the  Meeting  House  &  the  Pond. 

19.  This  morning  after  breakfast  in  company  with  Col.  Lovejoy 
I  left  Andover  to  see  Methuen,  one  of  the  Towns  of  Essex  County. 
I  had  crossed  the  river  before  at  Bodwell's  falls,  &  at  the  upper  part 
of  the  Town  at  Richardson's  but  had  not  been  far  from  the  banks  of 
the  River.  We  had  to  ride  about  three  miles  to  Bodwell's  falls  where 
the  new  Bridge  is  erected.  We  crossed  the  Bridge  on  the  Shawshin 
at  Poor's  in  a  mile  &  1/2  &  a  Brook  called  Cold  Spring,  &  had  in 
full  view  a  regular  hill  called  Tower  Hill  in  Methuen,  which  touches 
the  river  between  Bodwell  &  Peter's  falls,  &  has  a  ferry  on  the  river. 
We  turned  short  to  the  right  hand  and  came  to  the  Bridge.  I  was 
not  able  to  get  the  dimentions  of  this  Bridge.  It  was  represented  on 
the  planking  to  reach  38  rods,  above  600  feet.  The  water  courses 
are  four,  &  all  supported  overhead.  The  first  floor  is  fiat,  but  the 
other  three  are  arches.  The  piers  are  covered  with  square  timber 
&  filled  with  rocks,  &  the  work  looks  well  throughout.  There  were 
seines  employed  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  but  they  took  only  Shads, 
Suckers  &  alewives.  We  purchased  a  few  as  they  came  out  of  the 
water.  Having  passed  the  Bridge,  we  left  White's  on  the  right,  & 
soon  passed  a  guide  Post,  telling  us,  that  it  was  17  mijes  to  London- 
derry, &  so  to  Patucket  falls,  which  is  said  to  be  a  corruption  of  Pau- 
tucket.  We  crossed  a  Brook,  &  then  came  in  view  of  the  Spiquet, 
a  beautiful  Stream,  which  rises  in  New  Hampshire,  passes  through 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  73 

Methuen  &  empties  into  the  Merrimack,  opposite  to  the  Shawshin. 
Its  course  was  judged  to  be  S.  E.,  &  it  passes  near  New  Salem  Meet- 
ing House  in  N.  H.  near  the  Road.  As  we  ascended  Conant's  Hill 
we  saw  the  Spiquet  pouring  its  waters  along  at  the  Foot  of  this  Hill, 
which  is  high  &  steep,  &  now  the  land  begins  to  look  of  a  much 
better  soil,  as  well  as  cultivation.  A  view  of  Methuen  from  the  op- 
posite banks  of  the  River  would  give  the  beholder  a  very  unfavour- 
able opinion  of  the  Township,  &  would  justify  the  censure  of  Andover 
whose  inhabitants  long  called  it  Littleworth.  But  the  opinion  is 
more  favourable  when  we  see  their  Oaklands,  well  cultivated  spots, 
&  the  general  appearance  of  ease  &  prosperity.  It  is  said  to  have 
gained  much  within  a  few  years,  &  the  Farms  are  in  better  hands. 
The  high  lands  give  fine  prospects,  &  we  were  relieved  from  the  fa- 
tigue of  mounting  Conant's  Hill,  by  the  scenes  which  opened  before 
us.  As  we  approached  the  Falls,  the  Farm  house,  &  the  Farm  of 
one  Osgood  appeared  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  in  good  order,  & 
cultivation.  In  two  miles  from  the  Bridge  we  reached  the  Cascade 
at  the  Falls  of  the  Spiquet,  which  is  indeed  romantic.  The  Road 
runs  just  above  &  just  below  the  falls,  &  there  are  the  best  advan- 
tages for  viewing  them  on  every  side.  While  the  stream  is  full  they 
are  enchanting.  The  whole  fall  is  fifty  feet,  but  the  descent  over  the 
rocks,  which  forms  the  cascade,  is  30  feet.  Above  the  falls  the  stream 
divides  &  leaves  a  little  Island  over  which  a  road  passes  by  two  small 
bridges.  The  Island  is  full  of  large  Oaks.  The  east  branch  would 
lead  off  the  water,  &  as  it  passes  the  Island,  is  not  interrupted.  This 
branch  is  checked  below  the  Island  by  the  Timber,  which  passes  over 
its  mouth,  &  keeps  it  up  several  feet.  The  western  Branch  is  broken 
by  continual  falls  over  the  Rocks,  till  it  reaches  the  rocks,  where  it 
mixes  its  waters  with  the  other  branch  &  pours  down  in  the  beauti- 
ful Cascade,  into  a  bason  below.  On  the  western  side  there  is  a  grist 
mill,  &  fulling  mill,  &  on  the  eastern  a  small  wheel  to  grind  scythes, 
&  all  tools  of  husbandry.  The  water  passes  from  the  bason  below 
with  an  inclination  eastward,  which  gives  a  convenient  stand  in  front 
of  the  falls  to  see  the  water  precipitate  itself  from  the  rock.  The 
cascade  is  several  times  broken,  but  the  whole  has  but  one  interrup- 
tion from  the  projecting  sides  of  the  rocks  at  2/3s  the  height.     The 


74  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

rock  is  shelving,  &  slate  rock.  A  Sergeant  holds  the  mills,  &  keeps 
a  public  house  in  this  neighbourhood.  In  one  mile  we  reached  the 
meeting  House  leaving  on  our  right  the  parsonage  lot  of  wood  chiefly 
oak.  Not  far  from  the  Meeting  House  is  the  late  Mansion  of  the 
first  Minister,  Sargeant,  who  was  the  father  of  our  late  Judge  Sar- 
geant,  so  eminent  on  our  Supreme  Bench  for  his  Law  Knowledge,  & 
lately  deceased  at  Haverhill.  The  Estate  is  now  held  by  a  Bodwell 
by  purchase.  Rev.  Sargeant  was  in  this  Town  50  years,  &  not  long 
since  died.  He  was  succeeded  by  a  Mr  Williams,  Son  of  the  Pevd 
Williams  of  Windham,  not  far  from  this  place,  for  whom  a  Manse 
was  built  upon  the  glebe  not  far  from  the  Meeting  House.  Mr 
Williams  soon  left  his  charge  from  some  civil  dispute,  &  is  since  set- 
tled at  Meredith.  Last  December  they  ordained  a  Perley  from  Box- 
ford.  By  an  advertisement  on  the  Door  of  the  Meeting  House,  it  is 
to  be  taken  down  on  Wednesday  April  21,  which  is  the  next  day. 
The  Pews  had  been  taken  out,  &  preparation  made.  This  is  their 
first  Meeting  House.  It  was  small,  &  in  the  usual  proportions  of 
our  Meeting  Houses.  Never  painted  within  or  without.  The  timber 
was  on  the  spot  for  a  new  Meeting  House,  which  they  expect  to 
raise  in  May.  It  is  to  be  upon  the  plan  of  the  New  Meeting  House 
lately  finished  in  the  lower  Parish  of  Bradford.  With  a  tower,  & 
Cupola.  The  situation  is  truly  delightful.  The  Hill  on  whose  top 
it  is  to  be  placed,  rises  gently,  &  the  best  farms  are  near  it.  It  com- 
mands a  very  extensive  prospect.  One  Hildrich  keeps  the  Publick 
House  near  the  Meeting  House.  At  a  distance  N.  Westward,  appears 
a  handsome  House  belonging  to  one  Huit.  We  left  the  Meeting  House 
&  continued  our  rout  eastward,  after  having  been  informed  that  we 
left  the  Meeting  House  of  the  Seperatists,  half  a  mile  on  our  left  to  the 
west  when  we  were  at  the  Falls.  We  did  not  see  it.  It  is  now  vacant , 
&  the  Congregationalists  are  to  meet  in  it,  while  their  House  is  build- 
ing. The  minister,  Stephens  of  the  Seperatists,  has  removed  &■  settled 
in  Stoneham,  Middlesex  Co.  The  Baptist  meeting  is  at  some  distance 
on  the  extreme  part  of  the  Town  towards  Dracut,  and  is  unfinished,  & 
without  a  Teacher.  In  passing  from  the  M.  House  eastward,  we 
went  near  a  Square  House,  belonging  to  one  Swan,  which  was  well 
constructed,   &  in  good  order,   &  we  had    a  fine  view   of  the  houses 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  75 

eastward,  as  we  descended  the  long  hill,  till  we  reached  Esqr  Ingall's, 
to  whose  house  we  intended  to  visit.  He  is  an  old  man,  one  of  the 
Justices  of  the  Sessions,  &  has  been  in  the  General  Court.  His  house 
is  two  miles  from  the  Meeting  House.  To  extend  our  acquaintance 
as  far  as  we  could  we  did  not  return  the  same  way,  but  took  our 
route  through  Bear  Meadow  woods,  it  being  four  miles  from  Ingall's 
to  the  Bridge  on  this  road.  We  passed  Bear  Meadow  Book,  &  on  our 
right  a  Clay  Pit,  which  is  said  to  afford  as  good  Clay  as  in  the  County. 
There  was  no  Kiln  prepared  when  we  passed.  After  we  had  passed 
the  Woods,  we  came  to  Sow  Brook,  which  near  the  road,  meandered 
in  the  most  singular  manner,  leaving  only  a  few  yards  across  to  its 
course,  after  running  in  opposite  directions  several  rods.  It  is  above 
a  mile  from  Ingall's.  We  then  came  to  Bloody  Brook,  which  empties 
into  the  Spiquet,  &  saw  the  Ironworks.  There  was  a  Furnace  here, 
but  it  had  not  lately  been  at  work.  Ore  had  been  found  in  this 
quarter,  but  I  did  not  hear  its  quality,  quantity,  or  its  situation.  Be- 
low on  the  Spiquet  we  saw  another  small  fall,  at  which  was  a  Mill 
Seat,  &  was  told  of  another,  below  it  towards  Merrimac.  We  passed 
the  road  to  Swan's  Ferry  by  which  our  road  to  Andover  would  have 
been  shortened  two  miles,  but  as  the  attendance  was  uncertain  since 
the  Bridge  had  been  built,  we  continued  our  route  to  the  Bridge  pass- 
ing White's  on  our  return,  which  we  had  left  on  our  right  when  we 
entered  the  Town.  From  the  Bridge  we  had  a  view  of  the  mouths 
of  the  Shawshin  &  Spiquet,  1/2  a  mile  below.  After  passing  the 
bridge,  where  toll  was  12  1/2  cents,  we  took  the  new  road  &  instead 
of  turning  as  when  we  passed  before,  kept  a  direct  course  for  the 
Overshot  Mills,  which  stand  upon  an  artificial  pond,  near  the  Shaw- 
shin. Here  a  Saw,  Grist  &  Fulling  mill  are  supplied  with  their  little 
streams.  We  then  entered  the  road  to  Billerica  &  Concord,  &  keep- 
ing the  left  reached  the  North  Parish,  ascending  a  long  Hill,  from 
which  the  prospect  is  very  extensive,  &  entering  upon  Boston  Road 
from  Haverhill.  I  dined  with  Col.  Lovejoy,  &  in  the  evening  through 
Topsfield  returned  to  Salem.  From  Methuen  we  could  see  the 
Academy  at  Atkinson  on  a  hill  to  the  eastward,  with  the  Meeting 
House,  Manse,  &  adjacent  Buildings. 


76  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799. 

Sept.  1,  1796.  Hearing  much  of  the  malignant  fever  in  Newbury 
Port,  &  wishing  to  hear  with  my  own  ears,  what  was  said  in  that 
place,  as  well  as  the  state  of  the  Inhabitants,  I  listened  readily  to  a 
proposal  from  Dr  Little  to  take  a  seat  in  a  Chaise,  in  which  he  was 
going  to  Newbury  Port  near  which  was  the  place  of  his  nativity,  & 
in  which  he  had  his  medical  education  under  Dr  Swet  who  was  a 
victim  of  the  disease.  We  left  Salem  about  ten  o'clock  &  dined  at 
Ipswich  at  the  States  Arms.  Before  dinner  we  visited  Revd  Mr 
Dana,  who  was  at  his  father's  house,  &  who  belonged  to  Newbury 
Port.  This  Gentleman  was  supposed  to  have  had  the  symptoms  of 
this  fever,  &  is  now  upon  the  recovery.  Upon  our  arrival  near  the 
Town  we  stopped  at  the  father's  House  of  Dr  L.,  &  finding  the  fam- 
ily at  Lecture  'in  the  old  town  we  thought  we  would  stop  at  the  old 
meeting  to  hear  what  Dr  More  the  Minister  had  to  say  about  the 
fever.  A  young  man  Pierce,  candidate  in  Salisbury,  preached.  We 
found  the  alarm  was  great.  We  rode  into  Newbury  Port  &  stopped 
at  Davenport's  &  there  found  Mr  Marquan,*  so  famous  for  his  bold 
imagination.  He  had  a  servant  sick  of  this  fever,  a  negro,  &  in  a 
high  delirium.  He  had  left  his  house,  but  was  afraid  to  leave  it  with 
the  negro,  who  had  torn  his  bed  to  pieces,  &  such  men  as  were  sent 
to  watch  him.  Marquan's  account  did  not  want  colouring.  We 
found  Water  street  shut  up  by  a  chain  &  that  Mr  Carter,  &  Mr  My- 
call  were  the  only  persons  who  had  courage  to  tarry  in  it.  We  found 
the  Town  much  deserted,  &  there  had  been  public  religious  services 
for  several  days  successively.  We  sought  the  Clergy,  &  with  Mes- 
sieurs Cary  &  Andrews  I  spent  an  hour.  They  could  only  assure 
me  of  the  facts  of  the  deaths,  &  alarms,  without  any  reasonings  up- 
on the  matter.  I  then  went  in  search  of  Captain  Joseph  Noyes.  His 
house  was  shut  up,  &  his  family  had  gone  to  Hampton.  I  found  him 
at  his  son's,  &  as  he  was  one  of  the  Health  Committee,  I  by  his  re- 
quest accompanied  him  to  the  Town  house  where  the  Health  Com- 
mittee continued  assembled  all  day.  Capt  Noyes  was  present  with 
Dr  Swett  when  he  died.  Dr  Swet  was  taken  by  vomiting  on  Satur- 
day, &  determined,  upon  his  own  fate  upon  the  first  discharge.  Dr 
Sawyer  visited  him,  but  did  not  prescribe,  &  I  have  not  yet  heard  what 

*Marquand.  tDr.  John  B.  Swett. 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  77 

method  Dr  Swet  observed.  A  coldness  in  the  extreme  parts  was  ob- 
served on  Monday,  but  the  Dr  died  on  Tuesday.  He  rose  by  his  own 
strength  on  the'bed,  spake  to  Capt.  Noyes,  turned  himself,  &  with- 
out stretching  himself,  sunk  instantly.  The  body  had  rather  a  purple 
appearance  at  death,  which  soon  changed  for  yellow  spots  on  all 
parts  of  the  body.  He  was  buried  decently  the  next  day,  but  since  that 
time  there  has  been  an  hearse  provided,  &  Coffins  for  instant  burial 
without  any  ceremony.  The  Dr  died  16  Aug.  After  this  fact  my 
next  enquiry  was  into  the  origin  of  the  Fever.  I  had  visited  the 
family,  but  did  not  think  it  proper  to  make  any  enquiries  respecting 
the  Doctor's  opinion,  or  conversation.  Abroad  it  was  agreed  that  the 
Dr  imputed  it  to  putrid  fish  belonging  to  Mr  Atwood,  near  the  place 
in  which  the  fever  spread.  It  seems  that  on  31  May  there  arrived 
near  this  place  a  vessel  from  Jamaica,  &  on  the  homeward  passage 
several  men  died  of  the  yellow  fever.  '  The  vessel  was  unladed 
on  1  June,  having  only  a  few  puncheons  of  rum  on  board.  The 
people  say  that  all  the  cloaths  belonging  to  the  dead,  near  to  them  on 
their  sickness  were  thrown  into  the  sea.  The  reports  of  any  deaths 
from  visits  to  this  vessel  are  denied  by  the  Health  Officers.  They 
say  that  the  pilot  is  living,  the  inspector  living,  all  reports  to  the 
contrary  not  with  standing.  They  say  that  Capt.  Mulberry  took  all 
the  precautions  in  his  power.  On  the  other  hand,  they  say,  that 
where  this  putrid  fish  was,  &  the  vessel  did  lay  at  the  same  place, 
have  been  all  the  instances  of  mortality,  &  that  there  are  no  fair  ex- 
amples of  its  being  conveyed  to  any  persons  who  have  not  been 
actually  upon  the  spot.  They  begin  the  effects  of.this  malignant 
fever  so  late  as  at  the  15  of  June.  The  Physicians  concur  in  these 
facts.  No  persons  attending  the  sick  have  actually  suffered.  Since 
the  15  of  June  26  persons  had  died  at  this  time,  13  males  &  13  fe- 
males. At  nine  in  the  evening  we  left  the  Town  of  Newbury  Port, 
for  Newbury. 

2.  We  left  Newbury,  &  went  into  Byfield  parish  to  see  the  Man- 
ufactory. We  were  introduced  by  Mr  Perkins*  to  the  Apartments. 
We  first  reached  the  house  in  which  this  ingenious  Mechanic  lives, 
on  our  left.     We  then  came  to  the  new  building  intended  for  grist 

*Jacob  Perkins.   For  biographical  sketch,  see  Essex  Antiquarian,  Vol.  II.,  p.  G9-74. 


78  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

&  boulting  mill,  &  passing  the  house  for  the  workmen  we  reached 
the  large  manufactory,  which  stands  on  a  stream  emptying  into  Par- 
ker's river,  which  is  above  a  mile  from  the  Academy.  Below  we  saw 
the  house  for  dying  their  woolens  on  the  left,  &  on  the  right  we  saw 
the  house  for  sheering,  &  beyond  the  Great  Manufactory  was  a 
blacksmith's  Shop.  The  Manufactory  is  large,  of  three  upright 
stories,  besides  a  loft.  On  the  lower  floor  there  is  a  partition.  The 
bands  pass  over  a  Cylinder  moved  by  the  water  works,  &  communi- 
cate with  the  Nail  machines,  &  pass  also  through  the  floor  &  move 
the  Carding  Machines  above.  In  the  nail  manufactory  we  first  came 
to  the  machine  for  cutting  the  plates,  which  did  the  work  very  ex- 
peditiously. There  were  four  machines  for  the  brads,  &  then  a  ham- 
mer for  heading  of  the  nails.  The  whole  was  done  in  a  masterly 
manner.  The  second  loft  was  occupied  by  the  Carding  Machines  & 
Jennies,  &  the  Third  by  the  Weavers  on  one  side  &  the  spinners  on 
the  other.  On  the  upper  loft  &  on  the  one  side  of  the  partition 
below,  were  deposits  for  their  wool,  &  yarn.  In  the  Sheering  House 
we  saw  many  specimens  of  their  Woolen  Cloths,  which  appeared  to 
be  good.  They  weave  7  1/4  wide  &  they  use  altogether  the  Spring 
shuttles.  In  sheering  they  prefer  the  sheares  moved  by  the  right 
hand  onward,  &  commanded  by  a  spring  moved  by  the  left,  the  one 
blade  rests,  &  the  other  cuts  at  a  considerable  angle. 

3.  The  probability  of  the  infection  from  the  fish  was  confirmed 
at  Newburyport  in  their  minds,  by  similar  facts  at  Portsmouth,  & 
lately  at  Sandy  bay,  as  well  as  by  the  testimony  of  Dr  J.  Pringle 
upon  the  Jail  fever.  In  my  absence  I  was  chosen  one  of  the  Health 
Committee  of  Salem,  &  last  evening  I  was  with  the  Committee.  We 
have  20  members  including  the  Selectmen,  &  are  subdivided  into  5 
Committees  with  our  days  for  attendance  respectively. 

#|C  JJC  Jft  qC  5p  '      5fC  J(C         •  3p 

Sept.  21, 1796.  After  dinner  took  my  compass  &  pencil,  &  went  for 
a  walk  by  the  new  Mills  to  Beverly,  to  return  by  Essex  Bridge.  The 
North  Field  Bridge  has  been  lately  repaired  by  a  Mr  Woodkins. 
The  Draw  no  longer  rises  by  Levers  &  ropes  over  head,  but  by  bal- 
ances, &  a  crank  below.  It  appears  strong  enough.  The  leaves 
rest    against    each    other  &  depend  on  the  strength  of  the    work 


REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  79 

behind  them.  North-fields  do  not  appear  in  a  very  flourishing  con- 
dition. The  fields  belong  chiefly  to  non  residents,  &  the  houses  are 
occupied  not  by  the  most  industrious  citizens.  After  we  pass  the 
cross  roads  the  Negro  houses  appeared  very  decent,  especially  com- 
pared with  them  in  Town.  At  Mr  Gardiner's,  in  Danvers,  we  find  a 
decent  building.  The  present  owner,  since  his  purchase  from  Brad- 
ish,  has  much  changed  the  appearance  of  the  house  &  Land.  Below 
at  the  Bridge,  which  is  handsomely  repaired,  the  mill  works  go  on 
well.  On  the  southern  shore  all  the  frames,  &  sluices  are  prepared 
for  the  water  works,  &  on  the  north  side,  the  foundations  are  nearly 
complete.  Much  of  the  waterworks  are  finished,  such  as  the  water 
wheels,  trundles,  &c.  From  this  spot  I  walked  to  Mr  Reed's*  house, 
which  fronts  south,  but  is  quite  north  of  the  top  of  the  hill,  &  upon 
the  descent,  &  so  looses  much  of  the  front  prospect,  &  gains  nothing 
behind.  It  was  built  for  a  farm  house  upon  30  acres  of  Gov.  Endi- 
cott's  farm  sold  by  his  heirs.  Another  part  of  the  farm  which  in- 
cluded the  whole  neck  between  Duck  &  Crane  river,  is  alienated 
with  its  farm  house  to  Col.  Sprague  of  Salem.  A  third  division  on 
the  S.  W.  is  yet  retained  by  the  heirs  of  Endicott.  We  visited  this 
man  who  was  of  the  seventh  generation  from  the  Gov.  At  the 
door  we  found  the  Gov.'s  dial,"}*  which  was  in  copper,  a  very  fair 
impression,  &  in  the  highest  order.  It  was  marked  "William  Bow- 
yer,  London,  Clockmaker,  fecit.  I.  1630.  E."  (the  initials  of  theGov/s 
name).  On  the  gnomon  on  one  side  Lat.  42,  &  on  the  other  Salem. 
We  entered  the  house  which  had  nothing  to  recommend  it,  &  saw 
the  old  family  picture  of  G.  Endicott.  Copies  have  been  taken.  One 
I  have  seen  in  the  Senate  Chamber  &  another  at  Col.  Pickman's, 
Salem.  It  is  hardly  to  be  discovered.  The  face  is  the  only  part, 
which  is  not  entirely  gone.  The  canvas  is  chiefly  bare.  We  then 
passed  into  the  Cornfield  to  find  the  Site  of  the  old  Mansion.  We 
found  that  this  honse,  gone  before  the  memory  of  any  persons  living, 
was  upon  the  descent  of  the  hill  facing  southward.  The  place  of 
the  Cellar,  which  is  to  be  seen  is  distinguished  by  an  apple  Tree 
growing  on  it.  Behind  was  a  building  for  the  family  servants,  & 
domestic  laborers,  the  place  of  which  is  now  to  be  seen.  There  is  a 
♦Nathan  Read,  M.  C.  1Now  in  the  museum  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Salem. 


80  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

fine  prospect  in  front,  &  a  gentle  descent  to  a  little  creek,  in  which 
the  Gov.  kept  his  Shallop.  Tradition  says  there  was  a  walk  to  this 
place  with  damson  trees  &  grape  vines  so  thick  that  a  person  might 
walk  unobserved.  These  have  all  been  gone  for  many  years.  This 
place  was  called  the  Gov.  Orchard  as  he  planted  early  Trees  around 
his  house.  There  is  only  one  Tree  left,  which  bears  the  Sugar  Pear, 
&  by  tradition  was  planted  in  1630.  It  is  in  front  of  the  site  of  the 
House,  it  rises  in  three  trunks  from  the  ground,  &  is  considerably 
high.  It  is  much  decayed  at  bottom,  but  the  branches  at  top  are 
sound.  I  brought  away  some  of  the  pears  &  engaged  such  as  remain, 
to  be  brought  to  my  house  to  send  to  the  Governour  of  the  Common- 
wealth. There  is  a  beautiful  spring  near  Crane  river,  just  before  we 
came  to  the  gate  on  the  road. 

I  then  took  leave  of  Mr  Reed,  after  observing  the  fine  shag  bark 
which  grew  upon  his  land  &  which  formerly  abounded  on  this  farm, 
&  passed  the  New  Mills  upon  the  Bridge  beyond  the  Meeting  House 
over  Porter  River  the  main  Branch.  At  the  Bridge  I  passed  into  a 
path  at  the  head  of  a  Creek,  &  soon  reached  another  Creek  not  far 
from  a  north  Course  from  the  river.  At  the  head  of  the  second 
Creek  I  passed  through  some  woods  on  an  east  course,  &  found  a 
third  Creek  running  nearly  up  to  Rial  Side  road.  Just  beyond  a 
small  brook  descends  from  the  southern  part  of  Brown's  Hill.  On 
the  right  of  the  road  was  a  small  burying  ground,  belonging  to  the 
Leaches  whose  farm  house  had  a  very  decent  appearance.  Passing 
on  &  seeing  mean  houses,  some  with  the  old  shattered  diamond  glass, 
I  reached  the  top  of  the  rising  ground  opposite  to  Crane  neck,  hav- 
ing all  the  country  open  on  this  side  of  the  river,  land  poor  &  only 
5  Trees  in  the  whole  view  of  the  river.  50  years  since  this  parish 
could  vie  with  the  southern  parish,  &  the  most  independant  Farmers 
lived  on  these  grounds  so  celebrated  in  the  early  history.  After  a 
few  civilities  in  Beverly,  I  returned  to  Salem  &  reached  it  before  the 
clock  struck  6. 


July  25,  1797.     Left  Salem   early   for  Boxford,    in  company  with 
Mrs.  Porter.     We  reached  Topsfield   early  enough  for  Breakfast,  & 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  81 

were  with  Dr.  Cleavelahd.  We  then  stopped  at  Revd  Huntington's* 
where  we  were  kindly  received.  We  then  passed  to  Parson  Hol- 
yoke's  &  found  his  Son  &  family  well.  The  infirmities  of  the  Par- 
son take  him  entirely  from  his  services.  We  passed  into  the  great 
road  at  Spafford's  Tavern  &  crossed  to  Mr.  Perley's.  There  are 
seven  ponds  in  this  Town.  One,  back  of  Perley's  lays  nearly  east  & 
west,  widest  toward  the  western  end,  terminating  in  a  meadow  at 
the  east  end.  It  must  contain  200  acres.  I  walked  on  the  southern 
side  as  far  as  the  meadow.  The  ground  is  high  &  uneven,  with 
some  fine  trees,  but  of  poor  pasturage.  We  tarried  for  the  night  & 
our  Host  was  very  sick  while  we  were  with  him. 

•  26.  We  returned  after  Breakfast  by  the  great  Haverhill  road,  it 
being  both  nigher  &  better.  At  the  burying  ground  we  found  a 
new  monument  erected  by  the  Town  in  honour  of  Capt.  Wood,  who 
has  lately  deceased  &  has  left  2000  dollars  to  the  Town  to  assist  the 
Grammar  School.  The  stone  is  a  parallelogram  at  the  bottom  on 
which  is  erected  a  slate  stone,  in  the  form  of  an  obelisk,  tho'  flat  as 
a  grave  stone.  It  is  ornamented  above  with  marble.  There  is  a 
tomb  erecting  near  it  for  the  same  family.  The  arch  is  first  raised 
in  brick  &  lime  &  then  covered  with  stone  laid  in  lime  of  double  the 
thickness  of  the  first  arch.     The  Tomb  very  narrow. 

May  13,  1799.  Capt.  John  Gibaut  invited  me  to  go  with  him  upon 
a  visit  to  his  Farm  &  mills  in  Cape  Ann  Island.  We  found  the  road 
through  Cape  Ann  woods  much  assisted  by  the  new  road  but  there 
remains  1  &  1/2  mile  yet  unfinished  to  remind  the  traveller  what 
that  road  once  was  &  has  lately  been.  We  were  told  that  300  dol- 
lars had  been  appropriated  by  the  Town  to  finish  the  work,  as  the 
three  Classes  of  the  Lottery  were  incompetent.  We  reached  the 
Harbour  or  Town,  at  one  o'clock  &  passed,  after  a  few  compliments, 
to  Old  Town,  where  was  the  Farm  we  were  to  visit.  The  river 
which  empties  into  Squam  River,  on  the  west  side  of  that  river, 
meets  about  1/2  mile  below  the  mills  from  whence  it  has  a  souther- 
ly course  beautifully  meandering,  when  the  tide  is  full,  through  open 

"'Rev.  Asahel  Huntington,  father  of  Mayor  Huntington  of  Salem. 


82  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 

ground,  &  sloping  hills,  which  are  a  strange  contrast  to  the  broken 
ground,  and  towering  rock  around.     There  is  a  good  view  from  the 
rising  ground  opposite  to  the  Farm  House  at  the  Mills  but  a  better 
view  1/2  mile  upward  from  the  bald  rock  of  Poole's  Hill  which  gives 
a  view  of  Boston  &  Ipswich  Bay  &  of  the  adjacent  country.     The 
Mill  pond  communicates  with  Cape  Ann   pond  about  three   miles 
distant  &  the  tide  flows  as  far  as  the  Fresh  Water  mills,  one  mile 
upwards  or  S.  where  the  fresh  streams  turn  eastward.     The  mills 
have  been  thoroughly  repaired  &  a  large  store  is  finished  upon  the 
west  side  upon  a  Cobb  wharf  joining- to  the  Mill  Dam.     As  the  river 
runs  toward  the  Town  there  is  a  beautiful  view  up  the  river  of  the 
Spires  &  houses  as  we  approach  the  Town.     After  dinner  with  Capt. 
Smith's  lovely  family,  who  is  upon  the  farm,  &  in  company  with  Git 
baut,  we  prepared  for  sailing  down  Squam  river.     As  the  tide  was  low 
we  walked  down  to  the  point  below  the  mills  where  Squam  river  meets 
the  Mill  river.     At  this  point  we  found  the  remains  of  Col.  Low's  wharf 
which,  at  an  early  period,  was  a  place  of  considerable  business,  & 
there  is  an  unusual  depth  of  water.     Round  the  point  at  Gee's  wharf 
in  Squam  river,  6  fathoms  may  be  found  at  low  water.     There  is  a 
road  from  the  Town  to  this  point  but  from  the  change  of  the  place 
of  business  from  the  Upper  Town,  as  it  is  called,  to  the  Harbour,  so 
called,  it  is  neglected.     In  Squam  river  lay  four  islands.     The  larg- 
est are  furthest  up  the  River.     They  are  small.     Pierce's  &  Rhust's 
are  well  known.     In  Squam  Harbour  a  Cape  runs  inland  at  the  head 
of  which  stands   the  Meeting  House.     Not  in  very   good  repair  but 
better  than  at  Sandy  Bay.     It  is  of  two  stories,  not  high,  small  & 
finished  in  the  plainest  manner.     We  saw  the  wharf  at  the  Point  built 
by  Capt.  Haraden,  now  of  Salem.  Baker's  Orchard,  west  of  the  Town, 
was  said  to  be  as  large  as  any  upon  the  Island,  &  it  made  a  good  ap- 
pearance in  this  singular  situation.     Opposite  to  Squam  was  the  well 
known  Sand  Beach,  which  supplies  all  the  shore  with  sand  for  the  use 
of  families  from  Boston  to  Portsmouth.     It  is  best  nearest  the  rocks, 
or  upon  the  most  easterly  part  or  N.  E.     We  then  having  passed  Lob- 
ster &  Goose  coves,  to  Squam  Cove,  came  in  view  of  the  Bar  Rocks 
which  lay  near  to  Squam  Bar  &  which  trends  towards  Wigwam  Point, 
on  which  we  found  a  Beacon,  upon  which  is  hoisted  in  foul  weather  a 


REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN    1787-1799.  83 

Lantern  to  aid  the  Fishermen  in  passing  the  Bar.  The  Lobster  Rocks 
go  to  the  Channel  and  they  enter  by  bringing  the  Bald  Rock  between 
the  bar  and  two  sharp  rocks  on  the  shore  &  so  pass  clear  of  the  Lobster 
Rocks.  As  we  opened  the  coves  we  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
the  fashion  of  mooring  Boats  commonly  called  Jebacco*  Boats  be- 
cause built  first  in  that  part  of  Ipswich.  They  perforate  a  large 
stone  &  raise  a  tree  with  its  roots  &  stripped  of  its  branches,  &  then 
slide  the  stone  over  the  stock  of  the  tree  upon  the  root.  The  root 
prevents  the  stone  from  a  seperation  &  this  is  carried  &  sunk  in  a 
convenient  place  the  top  remaining  like  a  post  above  water.  The 
fish  houses  are  at  the  head  of  these  coves,  &  from  the  number  of 
sunken  trees  we  may  nearly  ascertain  the  number  of  boats  in  the 
Cove.  About  300  is  the  number  for  the  whole  Island,  half  of  which 
belong  to  the  part  called  Sandy  Bay.  From  Wigwam  point  we  passed 
to  Neck  point,  which  affords  two  coves,  that  on  the  west  side  be- 
ing called  Neck  Cove  &  that  on  the  east  side,  Hodgkin's  Cove  &  is  con- 
siderable. We  then  opened  Plum  Cove  &  afterward  Lane's  Cove  & 
after  having  passed  an  Head  called  Gallop's  folly,  we  opened  Gallop's 
folly  Cove.  The  next  point  is  the  extreme  of  the  Cape  called  Halibut 
point.  We  then  put  out  into  the  bay  among  the  wherries  which  are 
small  flat  bottom  boats  &  are  as  numerous  as  the  Jebacco  Boats,  & 
which  in  good  weather  make  two  fares  a  day  &  sometimes  take  as 
many  as  five  hundred  Cod  &  Haddock.  They  are  rowed  cross  hand- 
led by  one  man  &  even  by  boys  of  10  &  12  years.  We  succeeded  in 
fishing  &  for  the  first  time  I  caught  several  haddock,  but  the  wind 
breezing,  I  was  soon  too  sick  to  persevere.  We  returned  at  Sun 
down  to  the  Mills  &  after  Tea  had  more  sport  at  the  Mill  tail.  The 
eels  came  down  in  abundance,  &  the  alewives striving  to  ascend  being 
tossed  back  by  the  water,  great  numbers  were  easily  taken  in  a 
scoop  net  without  any  labour  but  of  dipping  it  into  the  stream.  It 
is  but  lately  the  alewives  have  been  led  into  this  course,  &  very 
few  of  them  pass  the  freshwater  mills  above  the  mill  tide  Pond. 
There  has  been  a  vexing  Lawsuit  upon  the  subject  a  few  years  since 
upon  account  of  the  refusal  of  the  privilege  &  the  Claims  of  the  Mills 
being  supported,  the  Town  has  hitherto  neglected  to  purchase  the 
*Chebacco,  now  the  town  of  Essex. 


84  REV.   WILLIAM   BENT-LEY   IN   1787-1799. 

privilege.  The  grant  of  the  mills  was  made  to  a  former  minister, 
one  Emerson,  &  all  the  inhabitants,  except  a  few  on  Jebacco  side, 
bound  themselves  to  send  their  grain  to  this  grist  mill.  The  exempts 
were  better  accomodated  at  a  nearer  place.  Frcm  the  conversation 
we  might  expect  that  the  Town  would  soon  see  their  true  interest  & 
purchase  the  right  of  a  passage  to  these  fish  so  important  in  our 
fishery.  These  alewives  net  only  draw  in  the  large  fish,  but  2CC0 
dollars  are  supposed  actually  to  be  expended  in  Cape  Ann  for  Ale- 
wives  as  bait  from  Jebaco  &  other  Towns. 

14.  In  the  morning  we  prepared  to  take  the  Tour  of  the  Cape. 
Capt.  Smith  took  a  Mr.  Phelps,  an  Apothecary,  in  a  Chaise,  &  Capt. 
Gibaut  &  I  rode  together  in  another.  We  stopped  in  the  Harbour 
to  be  shaved  by  a  woman  named  Becky  who  in  due  form  exercises 
all  the  functions  of  a  Barber.  She  has  her  shop  decorated  with  all 
the  pictures  which  belong  to  such  places  of  resort,  from  the  meanest 
Black  print  to  the  best  engraving,  with  all  the  songs  which  are  in  the 
taste  of  the  varied  multitude  of  her  customers.  It  was  a  solitary 
example  of  a  woman  in  this  employment.  She  shaves  well  but  has 
few  attractions  of  her  sex.  As  soon  as  we  left  the  Town  we  had  a 
view  on  the  right  of  Salt  Island  so  memorable  by  the  fate  of  our 
mariners.  It  lies  at  a  Small  distance  from  the  shore,  has  a  sand 
beach  within  it  &  is  almost  a  bald  rock  of  considerable  elevation. 
The  roughness  of  the  road  is  much  less  than  formerly  &  at  present 
not  to  be  compared  with  Squam  side.  We  passed  Col.  Foster  &  his 
Son  at  work  in  the  field  about  2  miles  from  Sandy  Bay.  Their  farm 
is  a  welcome  object  amongst  the  greatest  rudeness  of  nature.  Op- 
posite to  the  pond  we  stopped  in  the  Road  &  passed  to  the  right  to 
view  it.  We  ascended  a  bald  rock  on  the  western  side  not  far  from 
the  northern  end  of  the  pond,  about  40  feet  elevation,  &  here  we  saw 
the  form  of  it.  It  rather  exceeds  half  a  mile  in  length.  It  lies  about 
a  mile  in  line  from  Streightsmouth,  &  not  so  much  from  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  the  Island.  We  could  see  no  places  to  take  bearings  on  the 
Eastern  shore  as  the  Islands  were  hidden.  It  lies  in  length  nearly 
north  &  south.  Its  form  is  not  very  winding  upon  the  eastern  side 
except  a  little  at  the  south  end,  at  which  it  is  narrowest.  It  then 
trends  S.  W.  unequally  till  it  goes  westerly  to  the   outlet  which   is 


REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  85 

about  1/3  of  its  length  from  the  S.  end  on  the  western  side.  It  then 
remains  of  its  greatest  width  for  some  distance  till  it  becomes  more 
narrow  at  the  northern  end.  Its  greatest  depth  is  said  to  be  on  the 
N.  E.  side  opposite  to  the  high  rock  on  its  W.  side  from  where  we 
viewed  it,  reckoned  at  30  feet.  It  has  the  Pickerel  &  perch  in  great 
abundance  &  is  a  pleasant  body  of  water.  The  land  about  it  is  high 
excepting  a  meadow  at  the  north  end,  &  down  this  the  vallies  open 
as  far  as  Streightmouth  which  is  seen  in  this  opening.  We  passed 
from  the  pond  to  Sandy  Bay,  which,  tho'  it  has  a  scattered  appear- 
ance while  in  the  Settlement,  has  from  several  heights  a  very  pleas- 
ing form  from  the  neighbouring  heights.  We  stopped  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  settlement  at  Mr.  Rollins,  a  Trader,  who  was  absent  up- 
on business.  But  from  his  wife  we  had  every  attention  and  a  most 
excellent  fish  dinner.  We  here  saw  neatness  &  simplicity.  Her 
husband  is  a  carpenter  &  has  built  many  houses  in  the  place  &  is  in 
flourishing  circumstances.  From  this  house  we  passed  to  view  the 
settlement  stretched  along  upon  several  coves  &  this  place  has  half 
the  number  of  Boats  upon  the  whole  Island,  It  had  no  houses  which 
expressed  the  wealth  of  Cape  Ann  Town,  but  it  had  none  of  the  marks 
of  poverty  which  many  houses  in  that  place  display.  The  Houses 
are  small  &  of  two  stories  &  generally  painted.  The  Doors  are  com- 
monly on  the  side  so  as  to  afford  a  good  front  room  &  back  kitchen, 
with  a  bed  room  back  of  the  front  entry.  Some  are  double.  The 
School  house  was  neat.  The  Door  was  at  the  Eastern  end  but  there 
was  a  partition  between  the  Doors  in  the  same  frame  to  keep  the 
stairs  leading  above  seperated  from  the  room  below.  There  are  two 
windows  on  •  a  side.  The  roof  hipped  with  a  Belfry.  The  House 
painted  green  &  roof  red.  The  Meeting  House  is  small  &  the  body 
filled  with  seats,  much  neglected,  roof  rotten  &  open,  standing  near 
the  shore  below  the  School  House.  Formerly  there  were  ministers 
in  all  the  parishes  but  at  present  there  is  but  one  in  the  Island,  the 
Revd.  E.  W.  Forbes,  in  the  Harbour  or  Town,  so  called.  Mr.  Rogers 
was  formerly  in  the  Upper  Town  &  the  meeting  house  is  decorated 
with  an  handsome  steeple  but  it  is  going  rapidly  to  decay,  having 
been  long  neglected.  A  Mr.  Wythe  &  Parsons  were  at  Squam,  but 
a  separation  ensued  from  their  imprudence.     They  are  both  living. 


86  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799. 

At  Sandy  Bay  was  a  Mr.  Cleveland,  still  living,  who  has  repeatedly 
preached  among  them.  Some  from  these  parishes,  visit  the  small 
house  for  the  Universalists  in  the  harbour,  but  this  Society  has  no 
stated  minister  since  Mr.  Murray  removed  to  Boston.  As  we  pass 
in  Sandy  Bay  down  towards  Streightsmonth ,  the  Light  Houses  on  Tha- 
cher's  Island  open  on  the  road  before  us,  &  as  we  went  towards 
Streightsmouth  were  in  full  view.  The  longest  side  of  Streights- 
mouth  Island  is  open  towards  Sandy  Bay,  the  E.  part  running  out- 
wards from  shore.  The  Streight  is  narrow  &  has  not  much  water 
at  low  tide  &  is  winding.  A  Bluff  head  terminates  the  N.  end  of  the 
Island  near  the  shore  under  which  is  a  little  soil  to  be  seen.  There 
is  a  beach  upon  the  shore  within  the  streight  &  on  the  shore  a  Bluff 
opposite  to  the  bluff  on  the  Island.  Upon  our  return  we  observed 
the  very  decent  appearance  of  the  women  &  children,  which  have 
good  forms  &  most  florid  countenances  united  with  an  uncommon 
cleanliness  in  their  dress.  At  Rollins'  are  found  some  infant  speci- 
mens of  Taste.  Some  monumental  drawings  in  memory  of  some 
deceased  Children,  done  by  one  Saville,  a  Schoolmaster,  with  such 
inscriptions  as  are  adapted  to  the  heart  of  a  parent,  &  are  the  best 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  good  we  love.  After  dinner  we  took 
our  departure  for  Squam.  We  nowhere  saw  Halibut  point  from 
Sandy  Bay,  as  it  was  covered  by  Anderson's  point.  As  we  proceed- 
ed along  Pigeon  Cove  we  had  a  miserable  road,  but  before  we  reached 
it  we  had  a  pleasing  view  of  Pidgeon  Hill.  A  few  Trees  on  the  top 
yet  remain,  but  the  gentle  rising  &  the  central  figure  of  the  Hill,  as 
well  as  the  verdure  everywhere  on  its  sides,  was  a  contrast  to  the 
rude  forms  of  rocks  &  declivities  which  everywhere  else  appear. 
The  Salvages  lay  off  before  us  &  the  three  white  rocks  on  the  eastern 
group  which  lay  before  us  are  coloured  by  their  daily  visitants,  the 
Birds,  to  warn  the  Mariners  of  their  danger.  The  Mariners  speak 
of  applying  to  the  Marine  Societies  of  the  neighbourhood  to  assist 
them  in  raising  a  Monument  upon  Pidgeon  hill,  as  the  Trees  are  de- 
caying continually.  Upon  this  road  we  saw  several  neat  Houses,  & 
two  neat  School  Houses  of  one  Story,  well  painted.  Halibut  Point 
nowhere  presented  to  the  eye  as  we  passed  in  the  road.  We  found 
it  a  pile  of  rocks,  split  into  flat  stones  of  all  dimentions.     They  seem 


REV.    WILLIAM   BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  87 

to  invite  for  every  use.  But  they  can  seldom  be  taken  from  the 
shore  on  account  of  the  swell,  &  the  roads  are  too  rough  to  admit 
their  removal.  Gallop's  Folly  point  beyond  has  the  same  kind  of 
stones  but  not  in  the  same  preparation  for  use  &  split  so  regulary. 
At  Gallop's  Folly  we  found  much  loose  sand  in  the  hills  which  we 
had  opportunity  to  examine  as  we  stopped  just  beyond  Mr.  Gott's 
who  has  a  good  Farm  which  has  profited  from  this  sand,  which  has 
been  strewed  upon  his  meadows.  This  Man  is  an  Outre.  He  was 
formerly  employed  in  a  Coasting  Vessel,  but  at  present  is  seperated 
from  his  wife  &  only  Child.  He  discovered  to  us  the  most  hospit- 
able temper,  but  there  is  a  derangement  of  mind,  rather  than  a  cor- 
ruption of  heart.  He  shewed  us  his  farm.  He  has  helped  his  Sandy 
plains  &  hills,  by  the  Locust.  He  has' planted  the  Sassifras  &  has  a 
good  Orchard.  He  showed  us  his  woods  in  which  he  has  the  best 
oak  timber  on  the  Island,  some  of  which  he  is  cutting  for  Ship  Tim- 
ber. He  has  several  nurseries  of  trees.  He  talks  of  a  Ship  yard  & 
he  has  many  conveniences  on  the  shore.  In  a  mile  from  Gott's  we' 
reached  Squam.  This  has  a  scattered  &  poor  appearance.  It  once 
was  much  more  prosperous  than  Sandy  Bay  but  is  now  far  surpassed 
by  the  Inhabitants  of  Sandy  Bay,  yet,  should  the  fisheries  again  re- 
vive, we  may  hope  will  again  enter  into  competition  with  its  neigh- 
bours. The  road  from  Squam  to  Upper  Town  mills,  over  the  two 
Squam  hills,  was  in  a  very  neglected  State  &  by  far  the  worst  of  any 
we  found  upon  the  Island.  It  is  so  easy  to  pass  up  the  river  &  the 
distance  is  so  much  less  that  men  always  in  their  boats  never  think 
of  stretching  3  miles  over  the  worst  roads,  when  they  can  sail  pleas- 
antly only  one  mile.  Before  Sundown  we  reached  our  home  at  the 
Mills  having  completed  what  is  called  the  Tour  of  the  Cape  in  the 
distance  of  15  miles  as  it  is  reckoned.  At  leisure  examined  the  Tide 
Mill,  &  found  few  improvements  in  the  construction.  The  water 
wheel  is  upon  the  new  plan  of  side  boards  &  flats  instead  of  the  old 
floats  tunnelled  upon  shafts.  The  rounds  in  the  Lantern  were  short 
&  not  large  enough.  The  Lantern  was  large  enough.  The  Shoot 
was  open  &  the  clack  was  by  iron  claps  on  wood  instead  of  open 
iron,  &  the  spout  was  short  &  trough  narrow.  At  the  mills  they 
have  frequently   caught   a  fish  which   they  have  not   preserved  but 


88  REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 

which  the  Sailors  thought  like  the  Skip  jack  tho'  smaller.     I  have 
asked  to  see  one  when  taken  in  Autumn. 

15.     This  day  we  agreed   to  visit  in  the  Town  &  to  dine  with  our 
Companion   Mr.  Phelps.     We  reached   the  Harbour   at    11   o'clock. 
Our  first  visit  was  to  the  New  Ship  Yard.     They  have  never  yet  built 
ships   of  great  Burden.     The  first  attempt   by  Col.  Pierce   engaged 
much  of  the  public  attention.     On  every  road  we  heard  of  the  enter- 
prise  &  every  man  knew   how  much  timber   he  could   spare.     The 
first  ship  heads  76  feet,  27  feet  beam  &  12  feet  hold  within  the  tim- 
bers,   to  be  about  three   hundred  Tons.     She  is  up  in  her  frames  al- 
ready.    As  much   talk  has  been   made  of   Dock  Yards.     Cape   Ann 
think  they  can  afford  a  convenient  one  in  a  Cove  at  the  head  of  their 
Harbour,  within  5  pound  island.     Their  claims  are  not  the  meanest 
which  will   be  advanced.     20  feet  of  water  can  easily  be  had.     The 
Cove  is  large  enough   and  the  entrance   small  &  the  position   of  the 
Cape  is  the  best  in  our  Bay,  to  be  ready  for  Sea.     Near  the  Cove  is  a 
perpetual  spring  which  is  conveyed    in  a  wooden  spout  so  as  readily 
to  afford  any  quantity  of  the  purest  water.     A  constant  stream  fills 
the  spout  &  wastes  into  the  Sea.     There  are  two  Rope  walks  in  the 
Town.     One  in  Middle  street,  not  far  eastward  of  the  Meeting  House, 
belonging  to  Beach,  &  another  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Town,  form- 
erly Seargeant's   now  Plummer's.     From  the   Ships  we  went  to  the 
Bank.     It  is  a  building  in  Front  Street,  of  one  Story.     We  descended 
into  the  vault   which  is  formed    of  the  largest  stone   which   can  be 
easily  transported  &  it  is  formed  in  the  cavity  of  a  rock.     It  is  small 
but  more   secure  everywhere   than  at  the  door.     The  back  room  of 
the  Bank  is  a  Lawyer's  office  and  it  is  kept  by  Mr.  John  Rowe,  their 
present  Representative.     Towards  the  entrance  of  the  Town  is  the 
New  School  house,    of  two  apartments,   one  on   each   story,   with   a 
Cupola.     And  behind   the  Meeting  House  is  the  Proprietor's  School 
which  has  two  fronts  &  has  also   a  Cupola  &  two  Doors   under  the 
same  frame.     A  Mr.  Black,  now  in  Gloucester,  proposes  to  open  an 
Academy  &  to  unite  his  labours  with  two  young  gentlemen  who  are 
to  teach   writing   &  arithmetic,   Messieurs.  Saville  &  Woods.     It  is 
said  that  Mr.  Black  has  engaged  the  School,  but  that  the  plan  of  an 
Academy  will  not  probably  succeed.     As  we  passed  along  we  found 


REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY   IN   1787-1799.  89 

the  Minister  directing  the  plowing  of  a  spot  of  land  adjoining, to  an 
house  left  him  by  an  antiquated  Irish  midwife,  who  died  in  the  Town. 
We  visited  Mr.  D.  Rogers,  who  has  long  been  a  man  of  influence  in 
the  Town,  &  paid  our  respects  to  his  Son  John  Gorham  Rogers,  a 
worthy  gentleman.  At  Table,  at  Mr.  Phelps',  we  found  his  Wife's 
Sister.  They  are  g.  daughters  of  Mr.  Coffin,  whose  farm  is  so  well 
known  opposite  to  the  entrance  of  Jebacco,  &  who  had  lately  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Phelps  is  a  worthy  and  agreable  woman  &  soon  formed 
a  party  for  us  to  go  to  Eastern  point.  Mr.  Smith,  Mr.  Phelps,  &  their 
wives,  Mr.  Fulger's  wife,  Capt.  Gibaut  &  Mrs.  Coffin  &  myself  & 
Clementina  Beach,  made  the  party.  Mrs.  Fulger  is  sister  of  Miss 
Beach,  both  fine  women.  Clementina  is  a  young  lady  of  accomplish- 
ments. We  enjoyed  ourselves  and  returned  to  tea  at  Mr.  Phelps'. 
In  Cape  Ann  they  tell  us  that  Hog  Island  in  Jebacco,  offers  the  best  Veal 
in  the  Country,  &  that  their  own  Springy  tho'  Rocky  Hills  afford 
the  best  mutton  in  America. 

16.  We  had  engaged  this  day  to  dine  with  Mr.  Fulger.  In  our 
visit  to  the  Town  we  had  an  opportunity  to  be  informed  of  the  great 
increase  of  new  houses.  As  Squam  &  Upper  Town  have  decayed, 
the  Harbour  has  been  enriched.  The  military  Character  of  Cape 
Ann  is  established.  On  a  point  of  land,  they  can  afford  to  employ 
the  greatest  hospitality  towards  all  who  visit  them,  and  forming  all 
their  pleasures  among  themselves,  they  must  be  fond  of  all  social  in- 
stitutions. They  excell.  in  their  parties,  in  their  clubs,  &  also  in  their 
Military  parades.  A  late  proof  has  been  given.  Their  Artillery 
House  is  beyond  example  in  the  Country.  It  is  of  two  Stories.  In 
the  lower  there  is  all  the  Arrangement  of  an  Arsenal  or  a  Laboratory. 
Their  own  Two  Brass  field  pieces,  &  Two  Iron  9  pound,  with  all  the 
apparatus  are  disposed  in  the  best  order.  In  front  is  a  piazza  &  the 
building  has  folding  doors  which  open  under  it  &  form  a  full  com- 
munication with  it.  Over  the  Piazza  is  a  balustrade  &  place  to  ac- 
commodate a  large  company  &  the  apartment  of  the  second  story  is 
provided  for  an  hall  of  entertainment.  In  front  is  suspended  a  Bell 
given,  to  call  them  to  dinner.  It  has  this  inscription:  Ansottes 
segen  ist  alles  gelocheben.  It  is  friendship  which  gave  the  bell  in- 
dependently   of  its  being   cast   in   Denmark,    or   so   inscribed.     At 


90  REV.   WILLIAM  BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799. 

Dinner  we  had  the  Company  of  Mr.  Black  who  is  a  Scotchman  of 
great  pretentions,  as  was  said,  but  nothing  could  be  ascertained  ex- 
cept that  he  had  the  education  of  many  travelling  Scotchmen.  Af- 
ter dinner  Mr.  Fulger  permitted  me  to  examine  a  Collection  of  shells 
&  was  kind  enough  to  present  some  of  them  to  me.  We  left  his 
amiable  family  at  five  o'clock  &  reached  Salem  at  eight  in  the  even- 
ing, abundantly  gratified  with  our  company  &  amply  paid  for  our 
visit  to  Cape  Ann.  How  unhappy  it  is  that  an  air  of  dissipation 
should  appear  in  so  lovely  a  place  in  which  they  could  give  to  them- 
selves any  manners  they  please  without  any  danger  of  contamination 
from  foreign  influence  &  fashions.  I  gave  at  Table,  being  requested, 
"The  hospitality  of  Cape  Ann,  may  it  be  preserved  in  our  National 
Character."  In  no  place  which  I  have  ever  visited  can  they  so  easily 
combine  for  any  social  pleasure,  in  no  place  can  they  pursue  pleasure 
with  so  little  interruption  and  yet  they  have  all  the  jealousies,  com- 
petitions &  even  enmities,  belonging  to  little  Towns  &  to  human 
Nature. 

******** 

June  5,  1799.  Rode  to  Phillips'  Beach  with  S.  C.  Found  Mr. 
Phillips,  aet.  83,  living.  The  House  was  built  for  his  Grandfather 
in  1660.  An  ash  frame  now  firm.  This  part  called  Quamskutt.* 
His  g.  g.  father  was  among  the  first  settlers.  Everything  wears  the 
appearance  of  neglect.  A  beautiful  Ash  before  the  house  was  planted 
from  a  walking  stick  with  which  he  drove  homewards  his  team.  They 
still  complain  of  Foxes,  Martins,  etc.  in  their  woods,  tho'  they  are 
not  so  common  as  the  skunks.  At  Phillips1 1  saw  an  old  Cradle  much 
resembling  that  at  Boston,  in  which  John  Massey  the  first  Male  Child 
was  rocked. 

6.  Went  with  a  party  of  friends  upon  invitation  to  dine  with  the 
Widow  Grafton  at  Wenham.  We  amused  ourselves  with  the  Ale- 
wives,  Lamprey  eels  &  small  fish  of  Wenham  pond  &  after  an  ele- 
gant social  dinner  we  went  to  Pleasant  pond  about  1/2  mile  north- 
westward from  the  meeting  house.  There  is  a  beautiful  prospect 
from  the  ridge  eastward  of  the  pond.  The  pond  is  of  about  40  acres 
&  the  approach  is  beautiful  upon  the  western  &  especially  on  the 

*  Swampscott. 


REV.   WILLIAM   BENTLEY  IN   1787-1799.  91 

eastern  side.  On  the  north  &  South  are  communications  with 
Swamps.  1  went  round  the  pond.  After  Tea  we  returned  to  Salem. 
Having  no  boats  we  could  not  enjoy  the  fishing  which  is  so  good  in 
these  ponds.  The  lands  near  Pleasant  pond  are  like  the  dungeons, 
are  in  great  hollows,  but  too  much  cleared  of  wood.  In  the  grave- 
yard we  found  the  monument  of  Revd.  Joseph  Gerrish  who  succeed- 
ed to  Revd.  John  Fisk.  It  has  been  repaired  by  the  Inhabitants  but 
a  small  part  was  legible.  There  are  also  the  monuments  of  Revd. 
Ward,  Warren,  &  Swain,  who  have  been  successively  ministers  in 
this  Town.  We  found  also  two  of  the  name  of  Fisk.  One,  a  Dea- 
con aet.  85,  who  must  have  been  born  in  1644,  &  a  William  Fisk, 
later.  By  this  it  appears  that  all  Wenham  did  not  probably  remove 
to  Chelmsford  with  Revd.  John  Fisk,  &  probably  he  might  leave 
some  Children  upon  his  Lands  in  Wenham.  Mr.  Gerrish's  Latin  in- 
scription expressed  that  he  was  born  in  Newbury  &  as  the  word 
Parker  appeared,  probably  educated  under  Rev.  Parker  of  that  place. 


JEAN  PIERRE  BRISSOT  DE  WARVILLE  IN  1788. 

THIS  French  writer  was  the  son  of  an  innkeeper.  He  studied 
law  in  Paris  and  early  gained  a  wide  reputation  by  his  pub- 
lished works.  In  1788  he  founded  a  society  friendly  to  the 
negro  slaves  and  the  same  year  came  to  the  United  States  to  inquire 
into  their  condition.  Returning  to  France  the  next  year,  he  at  once 
took  an  active  part  in  the  Revolution.  After  a  time  he  incurred  the 
hostility  of  Robespierre,  was  arrested,  and  after  a  long  imprison- 
ment was  guillotined  on  Oct.  31,  1793.  While  in  America  he  adopt- 
ed the  habits  of  the  Quakers  and  on  his  return  to  France  he  intro- 
duced the  fashion  of  wearing  the  hair  without  powder.  His  record 
of  American  travels  was  published  under  the  following  title:  JSlou- 
veau  Voyage  dans  les  Etats  Unis  fait  en  1788,  2  vols.  Paris,  1791.  An 
English  translation  was  published  in  London  the  next  year  and  an 
American  edition  was  issued  in  1797  at  Boston. 

I  left  Boston  the  2d  of  October  [1788],  after  dinner  with  my 
worthy  friend  Mr.  Barrett ;  to  whom  I  cannot  pay  too  sincere  a  trib- 
ute of  praise  for  his  amiable  qualities,  or  of  gratitude  for  the  read- 
iness he  has  manifested  on  all  occasions  in  procuring  me  information 
on  the  objects  of  my  research.  We  slept  at  Salem,  fifteen  miles  from 
Boston;  an  excellent  gravelly  road,  bordered  with  woods  and  mead- 
ows. This  road  pases  the  fine  bridge  of  Maiden,  which  I  mentioned 
before,  and  the  town  of  Lynn  remarkable  for  the  manufacture  of 
women's  shoes.  It  is  calculated  that  more  than  an  hundred  thou- 
sand pairs  are  annually  exported  from  this  town.  At  Reading,  not 
far  from  Lynn,  is  a  similar  manufacture  of  men's  shoes. 

Salem,  like  all  other  towns  in  America,  has  a  printing  press  and  a 
gazette.  I  read  in  this  gazette  the  discourse  pronounced  by  M. 
D'Epremenil,  when  he  was  arrested  in  full  parliament  in  Paris.  What 
an  admirable  invention  is  the  press!  it  brings  all  nations  acquainted 
with  each  other,  and  electerizes  all  men  by  the  recital  of  good  actions, 
which  thus  become  common  to  all.  This  discourse  transported  the 
daughters  of  my  hostess :  D'Epremenil  appeared  to  them  a  Brutus. 

(92) 


JEAN  PIERRE  BR1SS0T  DE  WARVILLE  IN  1788.  93 

It  was  cold  and  we  had  a  fire  in  a  Franklin  stove.  These  are  com- 
mon here,  and  those  chimneys  which  have  them  not,  are  built  as  de- 
scribed by  M.  de  Crevecoeur:  they  rarely  smoke. 

The  mistress  of  the  tavern  (Robinson*)  was  taking  tea  with  her 
daughters;  they  invited  us  to  partake  with  them.  I  repeat  it,  we 
have  nothing  like  this  in  France.  It  is  a  general  remark  thro*  all  the 
United  States:  a  tavern-keeper  must  be  a  respectable  man,  his 
daughters  are  well  drest,  and  have  an  air  of  decency  and  civility. 
We  had  good  provisions,  good  beds,  attentive  servants;  neither  the 
servants  nor  the  coachman  ask  any  money.  It  is  an  excellent  prac- 
tice ;  for  this  tax  with  us  not  only  becomes  insupportable  on  account 
of  the  persecutions  which  it  occasions,  but  it  gives  men  an  air  of 
baseness,  and  accustoms  to  the  servility  of  avarice.  Salem  has  a 
considerable  commerce  to  the  islands,  and  a  great  activity  of  busi- 
ness by  the  cod  fishery. 

In  passing  to  Beverly,  we  crossed  another  excellent  wooden  bridge. 
The  construction  of  this  bridge,  and  the  celerity  with  which  it  was 
built,  gives  a  lively  idea  of  the  activity  and  industry  of  Massachusetts. 
It  cost  but  three  thousand  pounds ;  the  toll  for  an  horse  and  carriage 
is  eight  pence;  the  opening  in  the  middle  for  the  passage  of  vessels, 
is  of  a  simpler  mechanism  than  that  of  Charlestown.  On  the  road  to 
Beverly  I  saw  a  flourishing  manufacture  of  cotton.  At  Londonderry 
a  town  chiefly  inhabited  by  Irish,  is  a  considerable  manufacture  of 
linen.  We  dined  at  Newbury  with  Mr.  Tracy,  who  formerly  enjoyed 
a  great  fortune,  and  has  since  been  reduced  by  the  failure  of  different 
enterprises,  particularly  by  a  contract  to  furnish  masts  for  the  mar- 
ine of  France.  The  miscarriage  of  this  undertaking,  was  owing  to 
his  having  employed  agents  in  procuring  the  first  cargo  who  de- 
ceived him,  and  sent  a  parcel  of  refuse  masts  that  were  fit  only  for 
fire-wood.  Though  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Tracy  had  been  de- 
ceived was  sufficiently  proved  ;  yet,  for  the  clerks  of  the  marine  at 
Versailles,  whose  interest  it  was  to  decry  the  American  timber,, this 
fact  was  sufficient  to  enable  them  to  cause  it  ever  after  to  be  rejected. 
And  Mr.  Tracy's  first  cargo  was  condemned   and  sold  at  Havre  for 

*  The  wife  of  Samuel  Robnison  who  kept  the  "Sun  Tavern,"  previously  kept 
by  William  Goodhue. 


94  JEAN   PIERRE  BRISSOT  DE  WARVILLE  IN   1788. 

250  1.  He  lives  retired;  and  with  the  consolation  of  his  respectable 
wife,  supports  his  misfortunes  with  dignity  and  firmness. 

Newbury  would  be  one  of  the  best  ports  in  the  United  States,  were 
it  not  for  a  dangerous  bar  at  the  entrance.  The  business  of  ship- 
building has  much  declined  here.  In  the  year  1772  ninety  vessels 
were  built  here,  in  1788  only  three.  This  town  stands  at  the  mouth 
of  the  fine  river  Merrimack,  abounding  in  fish  of  different  kinds. 
Twenty-four  miles  of  fine  road  brings  you  from  Newbury  to  Ports- 
mouth, the  capital  of  New-Hampshire.    .    .    . 

We  left  Portsmouth  on  Sunday,  and  came  to  dine  at  Mr.  Dalton's, 
five  miles  from  Newbury,  on  the  Merrimack :  this  is  one  of  the  fine- 
est  situations  that  can  be  imagined.  It  presents  an  agreeable  pros- 
pect of  seven  leagues.  This  farm  is  extremely  well  arranged ;  I  saw 
on  it  thirty  cows,  numbers  of  sheep,  &c.  and  a  well  furnished  garden. 
Mr.  Dalton  occupies  himself  much  in  gardening,  a  thing  generally 
neglected  in  America.  He  has  fine  grapes,  apples,  and  pears;  but  he 
complains  that  children  steal  them ;  an  offence  readily  pardoned  in  a 
free  country. 

The  Americans  are  not  accustomed  to  what  we  call  grand  feasts; 
they  treat  strangers  as  they  treat  themselves  every  day,  and  they 
live  well.  They  say  they  are  not  anxious  to  starve  themselves  the 
week,  in  order  to  gormandize  on  Sunday.  This  trait  will  paint  to  you 
a  people  at  their  ease,  who  wish  not  to  torment  themselves  for  show. 

Mr.  Dalton's  house  presented  me  with  the  image  of  a  true  pa- 
triarchial  family,  and  of  great  domestic  felicity;  it  is  composed  of 
four  or  five  handsome  young  women,  drest  with  decent  simplicity, 
his  amiable  wife,  and  his  venerable  father  of  eighty  years.  This 
respectable  old  man  preserves  a  good  memory,  a  good  appetite,  and 
takes  habitual  exercise.  He  has  no  wrinkles  in  his  face,  which  seems 
to  be  a  characteristic  of  American  old  age ;  at  least  I  have  observed  it. 

From  Mr.  Dalton's  we  came  to  Andover,  where  my  companion  pre- 
sented me  to  the  respectable  pastor  of  the  parish,  Dr.  Symmes,  in 
whom  I  saw  a  true  model  of  a  minister  of  religion,  purity  of  morals, 
simplicity  in  his  manner  of  life,  and  gentleness  of  character.  He 
cheers  his  solitude  with  a  respectable  wife,  by  whom  he  has  had 
many  children. 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  IN  1789. 

IN  THE  summer  following  his  inauguration  Washington  had  a 
severe  sickness  and  was  confined  to  his  bed  for  about  six  weeks. 
With  the  idea  of  regaining  his  health  and  also  of  seeing  some- 
thing of  the  New  England  States  he  set  off  on  a  tour  that  extended 
as  far  as  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  He  did  not  pass  through  Rhode  Island 
as  that  State  had  not  yet  come  into  the  Union  and  technically  was 
foreign  territory.  At  Boston,  Governor  Hancock  from  a  mistaken  no- 
tion of  precedent  tried  to  compel  Washington  to  make  the  first  formal 
call  and  finally,  when  forced  by  public  sentiment  to  pay  his  respects 
to  the  President  he  went  wrapped  in  flannels  and  pleading  an  attack 
of  the  gout.  With  this  solitary  exception  he  was  received  every 
where  with  demonstrations  of  veneration  and  affection.  His  journal 
of  this  tour  was  published  under  the  following  title :  Diary  of  George 
Washington  from  1 789  to  1791 ;  embracing  the  opening  of  the  first  Con- 
gress, and  his  tours  through  New  England  .  .  .  Edited  by  Benson  J. 
Lossing,  New  York,  1860. 

[Oct.  29, 1789]  From  Boston,  besides  the  number  of  citizens  which 
accompanied  me  to  Cambridge,  and  many  of  them  from  thence  to 
Lynn — the  Boston  Corps  of  Horse  escorted  me  to  the  line  between 
Middlesex  and  Essex  County,  where  a  party  of  Horse,  with  Genl. 
Titcomb,  met  me,  and  conducted  me  through  Marblehead  (which  is 
4  miles  out  of  the  way,  but  I  wanted  to  see  it,)  to  Salem. 

The  chief  employment  of  the  People  of  Marblehead  (males)  is  fish- 
ing; about  110  vessels,  and  800  men  and  boys  are  engaged  in  this 
business.  Their  chief  export  is  fish.  About  5000  souls  are  said  to 
be  in  this  place,  which  has  the  appearance  of  antiquity;  the  Houses 
are  old  ;  the  streets  dirty;  and'the  common  people  not  very  clean. 
Before  we  entered  the  Town  we  were  met  and  attended  by  a  Com'e 
till  we  were  handed  over  to  the  Select  men,  who  conducted  us,  salut- 
ed by  artillery,  into  the  Town,  to  the  House  of  a  Mrs.  Lee,  where 
there  was  a  cold  collation  prepared ;  after  partaking  of  which  we 
visited  the  Harbour,  their  fish,  flakes  for  curing  fish,  &c,  and  then 
proceeded  (first  receiving  an  Address  from  the  Inhabitants)  to  Salem. 

(95) 


96  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  IN  1789. 

At  the  Bridge,  2  miles  from  this  Town,  we  were  also  met  by  a  Com- 
mittee, who  conducted  us  by  a  Brigade  of  the  militia  and  one  or  two 
handsome  Corps  in  Uniform,  through  several  of  the  Streets  to  the 
Town  or  Court  House,  where  an  Ode  in  honor  of  the  President  was 
sung — an  Address  presented  to  him  amidst  the  acclamations  of  the 
People;  after  which  he  was  conducted  to  his  Lodgings.  Rec'd  the 
Compliments  of  many  differt.  classes  of  People,  and  in  the  evening, 
between  7  and  8  o'clock,  went  to  an  Assembly,  where  there  was  at 
least  an  hundred  handsome  and  well  dressed  Ladies.  Abt.  nine  I 
returned  to  my  Lodgings. 

The  Road  from  Boston  to  this  place  is  here  and  there  Stoney,  tho' 
level;  it  is  very  pleasant:  from  most  parts  you  are  in  sight  of  the 
Sea.  Meads,  arable  Land,  and  Rocky  hills  are  much  intermixed — 
the  latter  chiefly  on  the  left.  The  Country  seems  to  be  in  a  manner 
entirely  stripped  of  wood.  The  grazing  is  good — the  Houses  stand 
thick. 

After  leaving  Cambridge,  at  the  distance  of  4  miles,  we  passed 
through  Mystick — then  Maiden — next  Lynn,  where  it  is  said  175,000 
pairs  of  shoes  (women's,  chiefly)  have  been  made  in  a  year  by  abt. 
400  workmen.  This  is  only  a  row  of  houses,  and  not  very  thick,  on 
each  side  of  the  Road.  After  passing  Lynn  you  enter  Marblehead, 
w'ch  is  4  miles  from  Salem.  This  latter  is  a  neat  Town,  and  said  to 
contain  8  or  9000  Inhabitants.  Its  exports  are  chiefly  Fish,  Lumber, 
and  Provisions.  They  have  in  the  East  India  Trade  at  this  time  13 
Sail  of  Vessels. 

Friday  [Oct.],  30th.  A  little  after  8  o'clock  I  set  out  for  Newbury- 
Port ;  and  in  less  than  2  miles  crossed  the  Bridge  between  Salem  and 
Beverly,  which  makes  a  handsome  appearance,  and  is  upon  the  same 
plan  of  those  over  Charles  and  Mistick  Rivers;  excepting  that  it  has 
not  foot  ways  as  that  of  the  former  has.  The  length  of  this  bridge 
is  1530  feet,  and  was  built  for  about  £4500,  lawful  money — a  price 
inconceivably  low  in  my  estimation,  as  there  is  18  feet  water  in  the 
deepest  parts  of  the  River  over  which  it  is  erected.  This  Bridge  is 
larger  than  that  at  Charlestown,  but  shorter  by  feet  than  the 

other  over  Mistick.  All  of  them  have  draw  bridges,  by  which  ves- 
sels pass.     After  passing  Beverley,.  2  miles,  we  come  to  the  Cotton 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  IN  1789.  97 

Manufactory,  which  seems  to  be  carrying  on  with  spirit  by  the  Mr. 
Cabbots  (principally). 

In  this  Manufactory  they  have  the  new  Invented  Carding  and 
Spinning  Machines  ;  one  of  the  first  supplies  the  work,  and  four  of 
the  latter;  one  of  which  spins  84  threads  at  a  time  by  one  person. 
The  Cotton  is  prepared  for  these  Machines  by  being  first  (lightly) 
drawn  to  a  thr'd,  on  the  common  wheel ;  there  is  also  another  machine 
for  doubling  and  twisting  the  threads  for  particular  cloths;  this  al- 
so does  many  at  a  time.  For  winding  the  Cotton  from  the  Spindles, 
and  preparing  it  for  the  warp,  there  is  a  Reel  which  expedites  the 
work  greatly.  A  number  of  Looms  (15  or  16)  were  at  work  with 
spring  shuttles,  which  do  more  than  d'ble  work.  In  short,  the  whole 
seemed  perfect,  and  the  Cotton  stuffs  w'ch  they  turn  out,  excellent 
of  their  kind ;  warp  and  filling  both  are  now  of  Cotton.  From  this 
place,  with  escorts  of  Horse,  I  passed  on  to  Ipswich,  about  10  miles; 
at  the  entrance  of  which  I  was  met  and  welcomed  by  the  Select  men, 
and  received  by  a  Regm't  of  Militia. 

At  this  place  I  was  met  by  Mr.  Dalton  and  some  other  Gentlem'en 
from  Newbury-port ;  partook  of  a  cold  collation,  and  proceeded  on 
to  the  last  mentioned  place,  where  I  was  received  with  much  respect 
and  parade,  about  4  o'clock. 

In  the  evening  there  were  rockets  and  some  other  fireworks — and 
every  other  demonstration  to  welcome  me  to  the  Town.  This  place 
is  pleasantly  situated  on  Merrimack  River,  and  appears  to  have  car- 
ried on  (here  and  above)  the  shipbuilding  business  to  a  grt.  extent. 
The  number  of  souls  is  estimated  at  5000. 

Saturday  [Oct.]  31st.  Left  Newbury-port  a  little  after  8  o'clock 
(first  breakfasting  with  Mr.  Dalton)  and  to  avoid  a  wider  ferry,  more 
inconvenient  boats,  and  a  piece  of  heavy  sand,  we  crossed  the  River 
at  Salisbury,  two  miles  above,  and  near  that  further  about — and  in 
three  miles  came  to  the  line  wch.  divides  the  State  of  Massschusetts 
irom  that  of  New  Hampshire.  Here  I  took  leave  of  Mr.  Dalton  and 
many  other  private  Gentlemen  who  accompanied  me ;  also  of  Gen'l 
Titcomb,  who  met  me  on  the  line  between  Middlesex  and  Essex 
Counties — Corps  of  light  Horse,  and  many  officers  of  Militia — and 
was  ree'd  by  the  President  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire — the  Vice- 


98  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  IN  1789. 

President;  some  of  the  Council — Messrs.  Langdon  and  Wingate  of 
the  Senate — Col0.  Parker,  Marshall  of  the  State,"  and  many  other  re- 
spectable characters;  besides  several  Troops  of  well  cloathed  Horse 
in  handsome  Uniforms,  and  many  officers  of  the  Militia  also  in  hand- 
some (white  and  red)  uniforms  of  the  Manufacture  of  the  State.  .  .  . 

[Wednesday,  Nov.  4th].  From  hence,  passing  through  Kingstown, 
(6  miles  from  Exeter)  I  arrived  at  Haverhill  about  half-past  two,  and 
stayed  all  night.  Walked  through  the  town,  which  stands  at  the 
head  of  the  tide  of  Merrimack  River,  and  in  a  beautiful  part  of  the 
country.  The  lands  over  which  I  travelled  to  day,  are  pretty  much 
mixed  in  places  with  stone — and  the  growth  with  pines — till  I  came 
near  to  Haverhill,  where  they  disappeared,  and  the  land  had  a  more 
fertile  appearance.  The  whole  were  pretty  well  cultivated,  but  used 
(principally)  for  grass  and  Indian  corn, 

In  Haverhill  is  a  Duck  manufactory,  upon  a  small  but  ingenious 
scale,  under  the  conduct  of  Col°.  [Blodgett]. 

At  this  manufactory  one  small  person  turns  a  wheel  which  em- 
ploys eight  spinners,  each  acting  independently  of  each  other,  so  as 
to  occasion  no  interruption  of  the  rest  if  any  one  of  them  is  stopped 
— whereas  at  the  Boston  manufactory  of  this  article,  each  spinner  has 
a  small  girl  to  turn  the  wheel.  The  looms  are  also  somewhat  differ- 
ently constructed  from  those  of  the  common  kind,  and  upon  an  im- 
proved plan.  The  inhabit'ts  of  this  small  village  were  well  disposed 
to  welcome  me  to  it  by  every  demonstration  which  could  evince  their 

joy. 

Thursday,  [Nov.]  5th.  About  sunrise  I  set  out,  crossing  the  Mer- 
rimack River  at  the  town,  over  to  the  township  of  Bradford,  and  in 
nine  miles  came  to  Abbot's  tavern,  in  Andover,  where  we  breakfast- 
ed, and  met  with  much  attention  from  Mr.  Phillips,  President  of  the 
Senate  of  Massachusetts,  who  accompained  us  through  Bellariki  to 
Lexington,  where  I  dined,  and  viewed  the  spot  on  which  the  first 
blood  was  spilt  in  the  dispute  with  Great  Britain,  on  the  19th  of 
April,  1775. 


JOHN  DRAYTON  IN  1794. 

JOHN  Drayton  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1766  and  educated 
at  Princeton  and  in  England.  He  became  Governor  of  South 
Carolina  in  1800  and  afterwards  was  a  United  States  Judge  for 
that  State  serving  for  ten  years.  He  was  the  author  of  several  works 
including  the  following  :  Letters  written  during  a  tour  through  the 
Northern  and  Eastern  States  .  .  .  Charleston,  1794. 

The  whole  way  from  Boston  to  Portsmouth,  is  a  thickly  populated, 
and  well  cultivated  country :  the  road  is  perhaps  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  United  States.  You  pass  from  farm  to  farm,  from  village  to  vil- 
lage, and  from  town  to  town,  in  quick  succession.  Some  few  miles 
from  Boston  is  a  small  village  called  Lynn ;  celebrated  for  the  vast 
quantities  of  shoes  made  there  for  exportation.  The  shoe-maker's 
shops,  are  almost  equal  to  the  number  of  dwelling  houses  in  the  town. 
The  road  leads  through  the  towns  of  Salem,  Beverly,  and  Newbury- 
port :  which,  for  riches  and  commerce,  have  a. right  to  be  considered 
as  some  of  the  most  respectable  towns  in  America. 

Two  or  three  miles  beyond  Newbury-port,  is  a  beautiful  wooden 
bridge  of  one  arch,  thrown  across  the  Merrimack  river:  whose  length 
is  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet;  and  whose  height  is  forty  feet  above 
the  level  of  high  water.  For  beauty  and  strength,  it  has  certainly 
no  equal  in  America:  and  I  doubt  whether  as  a  wooden  bridge,  there 
be  any  to  compare  with  it  elsewhere.  The  strength  of  the  bridge  is 
much  increased  above  the  common  mode  in  use,  by  pieces  of  timber 
placed  upon  it,  and  shouldered  into  each  other.  They  run  upon  the 
bridge,  in  three  lines;  parrallel  with  the  length  of  the  bridge,  and 
with  each  other;  so  as  to  make  two  distinct  passage-ways  for  carriages. 
These  braces,  are  some  feet  in  height,  and  are  connected  on  the 
top  by  cross  pieces,  affording  sufficient  room  for  carriages  to  pass 
underneath,  without  inconvenience.  It  is  said,  that  the  upper  work 
has  as  great  a  tendency  to  support  the  weight  of  the  bridge;  as  the 
sleepers,  upon  which  it  is  built.  I  had  not  time  to  stay  there  longer 
than  five  minutes;  so  must  be  excused  in  a  sketch  which  I  have  taken 
of  it:  and  that  was  not  done  upon  the  spot,  but  only  by  recollection. 

(99) 


DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT  IN  1796. 

THE  following  account  of  the  principal  towns  in  Essex  County 
was  written  by  a  trained  observer — a  man  of  varied  ex- 
perience. A  Peer  of  France,  he  was  deeply  interested  in  ag- 
riculture and  the  mechanical  arts  and  while  in  America  bought  a 
farm  in  Pennsylvania  and  spent  some  time  in  agricultural  experi- 
ments. He  was  in  public  life  at  the  outbreak  of  the  French  Revolu- 
tion and  maintained  a  moderate  attitude  until  1792  when  he  was 
dismissed  and  wisely  removed  to  England  from  whence,  two  years 
later,  he  came  to  America.  In  1798  he  returned  to  France.  He  es- 
tablished in  Paris  the  first  savings  bank  and  also  was  influential  in 
introducing  vaccination  into  France.  His  travels  in  the  United  States 
are  of  particular  interest  for  the  extended  comments  on  the  com- 
merce and  development  of  the  country.  They  were  published  in 
French,  in  eight  small  volumes,  in  New  York  in  1797,  and  translated 
and  published  in  London  with  the  following  title  :  Travels  through 
the  United  States  of  North  America  .  .  .  in  the  years  1795,  1796  and 
1797  .  .  .  London,  1800. 

On  the  first  project  I  had  formed  to  descend  the  river  St.  Lawrence, 
to  visit  Halifax,  and  to  return  into  the  United  States  through  the 
district  of  Maine,  I  intended  to  visit  General  Knox,  who,  with  ex- 
quisite politeness,  had  given  me  in  Philadelphia  an  invitation  to  that 
effect,  and  whose  mansion  was  situated  on  my  way.  On  my  arrival 
I  entertained  the  same  idea,  although  at  that  time  the  district  of 
Maine  lay  rather  out  of  my  way;  and  the  repeated  proofs  of  friend- 
ship I  received  from  the  General  confirmed  me  in  my  resolution.  I 
accordingly  embarked  with  him  for  St.  George's  River,  whither  he 
returned  after  a  four  months  absence. 

The  house  of  the  General  is  situated  about  two  hundred  miles  from 
Boston,  both  by  land  and  water.  At  this  time  of  the  year  the  passage 
is  generally  made  in  twenty-four  hours;  but  peculiar  circumstances 
prevented  us  for  three  or  four  days  from  availing  ourselves  of  the 
favourable  wind ;  and  after  these  impediments  had  been  removed, 
our  captain  wished,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  improve  the  first  appear- 

(100) 


,  DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT  IN  1796.     101 

ance  of  fine  weather.  This  was  very  trifling  indeed,  when  he  set 
sail,  for  which  reason  we  were  scarcely  able  the  first  evening  to  clear 
the  mouth  of  the  harbour.  On  the  second  day  we  were  forced  by  a 
thick  fog,  and  strong  indication  of  a  heavy  storm,  to  make  the  bay 
of  Cape  Ann.  These  measures  of  precaution,  adopted  by  our  captain, 
of  which  we  could  not  but  approve,  removed  us  forty  miles  out  of 
the  straight  road.  As  soon  as  the  fog  and  indication  of  a  storm  had 
disappeared,  we  got  again  under  way ;  but  meeting  with  a  dead  calm, 
we  were  obliged  to  come  once  more  to  an  anchor,  within  four  hundred 
yards  of  our  first  anchoring  place.  The  wind  generally  died  away 
early  in  the  morning  as  well  as  the  afternoon,  for  which  reason  we 
reached  not  the  General's  mansion  till  after  a  passage  of  seventy-two 
hours,  and  after  having  sailed  fifteen  miles  up  St.  George's  River. 

The  circumstance  of  our  being  compelled  to  put  into  the  bay  of 
Cape  Ann  afforded  me  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  drying  of  cod 
fish.  The  whole  coast  of  Massachusetts,  and  especially  of  the  dis- 
trict of  Maine,  is  inhabited  by  fishermen,  engaged  in  the  fishery  on 
the  great  sand-bank ;  they  bring  all  the  fish  on  shore,  where  they 
receive  the  last  dressing.  The  fish  are  washed  as  soon  as  they  are 
taken  out  of  the  water,  and  laid  first  in  heaps,  that  the  water  may 
run  off.  Then  they  remain  for  two  or  three  days  exposed  to  the  air, 
after  which  they  are  placed"  on  hurdles,  about  four  or  five  feet  in 
breadth,  three  or  four  feet  above  the  ground,  and  as  long  as  the  field 
on  which  they  are  erected,  generally  about  a  hundred  or  a  hundred 
and  twenty  yards.  The  fish  are  laid  on  these  hurdles,  first  three  or 
four,  one  upon  another,  and,  after  they  have  lost  most  of  the  water, 
every  fish  separately;  they  are  frequently  turned  that  they  may  get 
thoroughly  dry,  which  generally  takes  five  or  six  days;  at  last  they 
are  packed  in  cases,  pressed  down,  and  exported  either  to  the  West 
India  Islands,  or  Europe. 

The  best  fish,  that  is,  those  which,  caught  in  the  first  fishing  months, 
are  superiour  to  the  rest  from  their  being  dried  more  slowly,  are 
sent  to  Spain.  They  are  sold  at  double  the  price  of  those,  which  are 
caught  later  in  the  year,  when  the  heat  is  more  intense,  and  which 
are  exported  either  to  the  West  Indies,  or  some  part  of  the  continent. 
But  from  among  the  fish  of  the  better  sort,  which  are  destined  for 


102  DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT  IN  1796. 

Spain,  the  best  are  picked  out  for  those  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts, 
who  are  peculiarly  fond  of  salt  stock  fish ;  and  there  are  in  that  county 
few  families,  who  have  not,  every  Saturday,  a  good  dish  of  stock  fish 
on  their  table.  As  to  the  usual  partition  of  the  proceeds  of  the  fishery, 
it  is  as  follows,  viz. 

The  ships  employed  in  the  fishery,  which  are  generally  of  seventy 
tuns  burthen,  are  navigated  by  a  master,  seven  seamen,  and  a  boy. 
The  owner  of  the  ship  has  a  fourth  of  the  profit;  the  dryer  on  the 
coast  an  eighth,  and  the  rest  is  divided  among  the  master  and  sea- 
men, in  proportion  to  the  fish  they  have  caught.  The  expence  for 
candles,  wood,  bait,  and  salt  is  deducted,  previously  to  the  partition ; 
every  seaman  takes  care  of  the  fish  he  has  caught.  A  vessel  of  sixty 
tons  burthen  takes  upon  an  average  twelve  hundred  cod  fish,  which 
are  generally  worth  two  dollars  and  a  half  per  hundred  weight,  but 
cost  at  present  from  five  to  six  dollars. 

The  town  of  Gloucester,  which  is  situated  near  Cape  Ann,  employs 
in  the  fishery,  at  the  great  bank,  about  forty  or  fifty  yachts  and  brigs. 
These  vessels  are  of  the  burthen  of  one  hundred  or  one  hundred 
and  ten  tons;  make  in  general  three  voyages  in  a  year,  if  they  com- 
mence fishing  in  March,  and  continue  until  November,  when  the  fish- 
ery terminates.  Before  the  war,  the  town  of  Gloucester,  though  less 
considerable  than  at  present,  employed  more  vessels  in  the  fishery 
than  at  this  time.  This  decrease,  which  seems  extraordinary,  since 
the  number  of  ships  built  in  this  port  is  much  greater  now  than  at 
that  time,  originates  from  the  comparatively  greater  advantages, 
which  the  ship-owners  derive  from  trade.  But  the  number  of  towns, 
which  share  in  the  fishery  on  the  great  banks,  is  also  more  consider- 
able than  formerly;  so  that  although  the  share  of  single  places  in  the 
fishery  may  have  decreased  within  these  last  fifteen  years,  yet  the 
number  of  those  that  share  in  it  has  greatly  encreased. 

Besides  the  fishery  on  the  great  bank,  the  coasts  of  Massachusetts, 
and  the  district  of  Maine,  furnish  also  large  quantities  of  stock  fish. 
They  are  neither  so  large,  nor  so  plentiful,  as  at  the  great  bank;  yet 
this  fishery  affords  useful  employment  to  a  considerable  number  of 
ships,  which  proceed  only  five  or  six  miles  from  the  coast,  return 
home  every  week,  and  are  not  exposed  to  the  same  clanger  as  ships 


DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT  IN   1796.  103 

engaged  in  the  other  fishery,  which  mix  their  fish  with  those  that  are 
caught  near  Newfoundland. 

The  road  of  Cape  Ann  lies  south-west  from  the  Cape.  It  is  capa- 
cious and  safe.  On  a  commanding  eminence  on  the  coast,  a  fort  is 
now  constructing,  which  will  most  effectually  protect  both  the  road 
and  its  entrance.  Within  the  fort  a  block-house  is  built,  the  lower 
part  of  which  serves  for  a  powder-magazine ;  and  that  part,  which 
is  destined  to  be  inhabited  by  the  garrison,  is  built  with  so  much  care 
that  in  all  probability  it  will  be  bomb-proof. 

The  town  of  Gloucester,  situated  at  the  bottom  of  the  bay,  is  pleas- 
ant,  though  not  regular.  It  contains  a  number  of  stores  or  shops, 
and  a  considerable  proportion  of  good  houses.  Like  all  the  other 
small  towns  around,  it  has  an  air  of  brisk  and  thriving  industry. 

In  1794,  commodities  to  the  value  of  two  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  were  exported  out  of  Glou- 
cester; but  its  exports  for  the  present  year  will  scarcely  amount  to 
one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars.  Its  chief  trading  inter- 
course is  with  the  West  Indies. 

We  have  obtained  little  new  information  in  the  course  of  our  voy- 
age thither.  We  came  on  board  a  vessel  belonging  to  St.  George's 
River,  which  usually  takes  in  its  lading  there.  The  principal  com- 
mercial business  of  the  province  of  Maine  consists  in  the  exportation  of 
timber  to  Boston.  It  is  conveyed  in  small  yachts  from  eighty  to  a 
hundred  and  twenty  tons  burthen;  sometimes  brigs  and  schooners  are 
employed.  The  yachts  are,  however,  preferred,  because  they  are  light- 
er than  the  others,  and  can  be  navigated  by  fewer  hands.  At  times 
these  yachts  will  proceed  as  far  as  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Norfolk, 
Baltimore,  or  Charlestown.  From  these  places  they  are  always 
freighted  back  with  a  new  cargo,  by  which  the  profits  of  the  voyage 
are  increased.  From  Boston  they  must  return  empty,  and  therefore 
less  readily  undertake  that  voyage.  The  clear  profits  of  a  single 
voyage  were  estimated  at  sixty-six  dollars.  One  of  these  vessels 
made,  last  year,  sixteen  or  seventeen  voyages;  and  the  owner's  neat 
gains  for  that  length  of  time  amounted  to  between  one  thousand  and 
fifty-six  and  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  twelve  dollars;  while  the 
cost  of  the  vessel  was  from  three  thousand  to  three  thousand  three 


104  DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT  IN   1796. 

hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  When  the  timber  is  uncommonly  excellent  • 
in  its  quality,  the  profits  are  greater.  The  returns  are  also  unusually 
good  from  cargoes  of  lime,  of  which  there  begins  to  be  abundance 
found  in  the  province  of  Maine.  When  the  population  of  this  prov- 
ince shall  have  adequately  increased,  and  its  quarries  shall  be  wrought 
in  a  due  proportion,  it  will  then  find  a  very  ample  source  of  wealth 
in  the  exportation  of  its  lime  stone. 

The  vessel  in  which  we  sailed  was  dirty  and  incommodious.  Like 
the  rest  of  this  craft,  it  was  fitted  for  the  reception  of  goods,  not  for 
the  accommodation  of  a  few  casual  passengers.  But  the  attentions 
of  the  captain  made  everything  as  agreeable  as  possible  to  us.  It  is 
to  be  observed,  that  these  vessels  very  often  go  without  a  lading,  and 
many  times  return  even  without  ballast ;  a  condition  of  the  ship,  which 
makes  prudence  and  vigilence  in  the  captain  peculiarly  necessary. 
Our  food,  during  the  short  voyage,  consisted  chiefly  of  fish,  which 
we  caught  ourselves.  Of  these  there  is  on  the  coast  such  plenty,  that 
before  your  line  has  been  cast  two  minutes,  you  are  sure  to  have  a 
fish  on  your  hook,  which  will  weigh,  at  the  least,  two  pounds,  often 
not  less  thon  twelve  pounds.  They  are  of  the  species  of  the  cod  fish 
and  the  halibut;  the  cod  fish  are  larger,  and  worse  in  their  flavour 
than  those  of  many  other  places.  .   .   . 

Before  you  arrive  at  Newbury  Port,  you  have  to  cross  the  river 
Merrimack,  by  means  of  a  bridge,  which,  prior  to  the  building  of  that 
thrown  over  the  Piscataqua,  was  considered  as  the  most  elegant  in 
all  New  England.  It  is  at  least  shorter  by  one  third  than  the  latter, 
and  the  arch,  which  measures  only  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  in 
width,  is  supported  by  a  crooked  piece  of  timber,  measuring  twenty 
feet,  which  gives  the  bridge,  at  first  sight,  a  heavy  appearance.  Along 
the  banks  of  the  river,  before  you  come  to  this  bridge,  lies  Newbury 
new  town,  a  pretty  extensive  village,  where  a  number  of  ships  are 
built,  which  are  afterwards  equipped,  and  freighted  in  Newbury  Port. 
Mr.  Langdon  had  furnished  me  with  a  letter  of  recommendation  to 
his  friend  JACKSON,  from  whom  I  flattered  myself  with  the  hopes 
of  receiving  some  information  relative  to  the  town  and  its  trade. 
But  this  gentleman  being  absent  in  Boston,  I  was  obliged  to  content 
myself  with  the  intelligence  I  could  procure  from  some  inhabitants, 


DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT  IN   1796.  105 

whom  I  found  in  the  inn.  I  learnt  that  the  trade  of  this  town,  which, 
as  well  as  that  of  Portsmouth,  had  decayed  very  much  since  the  con- 
clusion of  the  war,  was,  for  the  last  years,  considerably  on  the  ad- 
vance; that  it  was  of  the  same  nature  with  that  carried  on  at  Ports- 
mouth, and  other  parts  of  Massachusetts;  that  the  quantity. of  ton- 
nage now  employed  by  thistown,  amounted  to  sixteen  thousand  tons; 
that  the  exports  were  valued,  in  1791,  at  two  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  ninety-three  dollars;  in  1792,  at  two  hundred 
and  seventy-three  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-three  dollars ; 
in  1794,  at  four  hundred  and  ninety-five  thousand  four  hundred  and 
five  dollars;  in  1795,  at  four  hundred  and  ten  thousand  five  hundred 
and  eighty-six  dollars;  that  it  has  very  few  fishermen;  that  the  har- 
bour and  moorings  are  good,  safe,  and  deep,  the  quays  commodious 
and  very  extensive.  The  town  is  almost  as  large  as  Portsmouth. 
Unfortunately  there  is  a  shoal  of  quicksands  at  the  entrance  of  the 
haven,  which  obstructs  the  navigation  two  or  three  times  in  the 
course  of  the  year.  To  guard  against  the  mischief,  which  other- 
wise might  befall  vessels,  that  have  made  long  voyages,  two  light- 
houses have  been  erected  on  the  coast,  one  of  which  is  moveable, 
and  capable  of  being  always  stationed  behind  the  other,  according 
to  the  actual  situation  of  the  pass.  By  steering  their  course  direct 
against  that  point,  at  which  the  second  light-house  is  concealed  be- 
hind the  first,  vessels  are  enabled  to  sail  day  and  night  into  the  har- 
bour, without  running  the  risk  of  driving  on  the  sand  banks. 

Newbury  Port  is  built  on  the  river  Merrimack.  It  has  ten  public 
schools.  A  society  of  inhabitants  of  the  town,  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Sea  Company,  have  established  a  very  benevolent  institution, 
consisting  of  several  small  houses  on  Plumb  Island,  which  lies  in  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  where  persons,  who  have  suffered  ship-wreck,  find 
some  provisions,  fire-wood,  and  other  articles  of  immediate  necessity. 

Newbury  Port  carries  on  a  considerable  trade  with  the  Antilles, 
and  receives  molasses  in  return,  which  keeps  from  eight  to  ten  boiling- 
houses  in  employ.  There  are  likewise  some  breweries  in  the  town, 
and  a  very  large  nail  manufactory,  which  appeared  to  me  to  be  very 
skilfully  conducted.  Newbury  Port  contains  about  four  thousand 
inhabitants. 


106  DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT   IN   1796. 

The  road  from  Portsmouth  to  Boston  is  one  continued  series  of 
houses,  shop-booths,  small  manufactories  and  villages.  It  is  an  un- 
interrupted garden.  The  road  is  in  every  part  better  than  any  I 
have  ever  seen  in  America.  It  would  be  considered  a  delightful 
road,  even  in  the  most  beautiful  districts  of  France  and  England. 

Ipswich,  one  of  the  most  considerable  villages  on  this  road,  is  sit- 
uated on  a  river,  to  which  it  gives  name,  and  on  which  some  ships 
are  built.  This  small  harbour  participates  in  the  large  trade  carried 
on  with  Massachusetts,  but  not  so  extensively  at  present,  as  in  for- 
mer years.  Flax  is  pretty  abundantly  cultivated  in  all  districts  of 
the  province,  and  seems  to  thrive  well.  But  it  is  said  to  be  in  great- 
er abundance  at  a  greater  distance  from  the  coast,  at  least  every 
where  more  so  than  hemp. 

Beverley  is  another  small  neat  village,  through  which  the  road 
passes  to  Boston.  Its  harbour  lies  on  the  South  River.  It  is  situat- 
ed on  a  peninsula  formed  by  that  and  the  North  River.  The  trade  of 
this  village  is  confined  entirely  to  stock-fish,  in  which  branch  forty 
vessels  are  employed.  The  fish  are  cured  in  the  village  itself,  which 
renders  it  very  unpleasant  to  pass  through.  The  number  of  vessels, 
which  sail  from  this  port  to  Europe  or  the  colonies,  is  not  considerable. 
Salem  engrosses  almost  the  whole  trade. 

Salem  is  one  of  the  handsomest  small  towns  in  the  United  States, 
and  is  separated  from  Beverley  only  by  a  bridge,  fifteen  hundred  feet 
in  length.  The  number  of  its  inhabitants,  which  increases  yearly, 
amounts  to  ten  thousand.  The  town,  in  reference  to  its  trade,  ranks 
with  those  of  the  sixth  rank  in  America,  and  with  those  of  the  second 
rank  in  Massachusetts.  The  uncommonly  active  and  enterprising 
spirit  of  its  inhabitants  is  the  sole  reason  which  can  be  ascribed  for 
the  great  extent  and  rapid  progress  of  its  trade.  This  town  has  no 
cultivated  land  behind  it  to  supply  its  exports,  which  in  America  is 
with  justice  considered  as  one  ,of  the  most  essential  articles  of  com- 
merce. Its  haven  is  but  small,  at  ebb  the  quays  are  dry,  and  vessels 
of  a  larger  size  must  even,  at  high  water,  unload  a  part  of  their  cargo, 
in  order  to  be  able  to  reach  these  quays.  Yet,  notwithstanding  these 
inconveniences,  the  annual  freightage  from  this  port  exceeds  twenty 
thousand  tons.  The  vessels  employed  in  this  service  sail  to  all  parts  of 


DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT   IN   1796.  107 

the  globe;  twelve  of  them,  for  instance,  are  engaged  in  the  East  India 
trade,  one  of  which  arrived  from  Calcutta  the  day  prior  to  my  entering 
the  town,  after  an  absence  of  nine  months  and  twelve  days,  of  which 
thirty-two  days  were  passed  at  Calcutta.  The  number  of  vessels, 
constituting  the  above  mentioned  rate  of  twenty  thousand  tons, 
amounts  to  one  hundred  and  fifty,  one  hundred  of  which  are  in  the  for- 
eign trade,  twenty  are  coasters,  and  thirty  follow  the  employment  of 
fishing.  The  exports. amounted,  in  1791,  to  six  hundred  and  ten  thou- 
sand and  five  dollars;  in  1792,  to  six  hundred  and  fifty-seven  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  three  dollars;  in  1793,  to  eight  hundred  and 
twelve  thousand  and  sixty-six  dollars;  in  1794,  to  one  million  four 
hundred  and  fifty-two  thousand  four  hundred  and  eleven  dollars;  in 
1795,  to  one  million  five  hundred  and  four  thousand  five  hundred 
and  eleven  dollars.  As  Salem  and  Beverley  have  only  one  custom- 
house in  common  for  both  places,  the  exports  from  the  latter  form 
a  proportion  in  this  calculation,  but  it  is  very  inconsiderable. 

With  the  exception  of  two  or  three  large  fortunes  of  nearly  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  the  opulence  of  the  merchants  is  not  very 
great ;  but  all  the  inhabitants  find  themselves  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition, which  is  the  less  subject  to  a  reverse,  as  the  mode  of  living  is 
very  frugal,  and  as  luxury  is  hitherto  little  known  amongst  them. 
Hence  all  the  profits  acquired  by  trade,  are  reimbarked  in  trade;  and 
this  accumulation  of  interest  upon  interest  insures  them  a  large  capital, 
by  which  they  are  enabled  to  bear  up  against  any  casual  losses.     The 
major  part  of  the  shipping  from  Salem  is  freighted  from,  Virginia  or 
South  Carolina.     In  these  provinces  of  America,  the  land  yields  a 
greater  abundance  of  produce,  than  the  vessels  employed  in  their 
ports  will  suffice  to  export.     The  industry  of  the  northern  ports, 
therefore,  is  here  very  valuable,  the  produce  being  in  an  inverse  ratio 
to  the  shipping,  compared  with  the  southern  states.     Salem  exports, 
however,  annually  from  seven  to  eight  thousand  pounds  of  salt  beef, 
and  eighteen  thousand  barrels  of  fish.     This  latter  article  has,  for 
some  years  past,  been  greatly  on  the  decline,  the  inhabitants  of  Salem, 
and  the  other  ports,  preferring  the  wholesale  trade  as  more  lucrative. 
The  commodities  imported  from  the   East  and  West    Indies,  form 
likewise  a  branch  of  the  export  trade  of  this  port.     Hemp,  iron,  Rus- 


108  DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT  IN   1796. 

sia  leather,  are  emplyed  in  the  coasting  trade.  Few  foreign  vessels 
put  in  here.  The  inhabitants  of  Salem  say,  that  their  own  industry 
leaves  no  room  for  the  speculations  of  strangers. 

An  European,  who  fancies  that  a  man  cannot  be  qualified  to  act 
as  a  captain  of  a  ship,  till  he  has  made  a  number  of  voyages,  and 
passed  through  a  regular  course  of  study,  is  not  a  little  surprized, 
when  he  is  informed,  that  the  merchants  of  Salem  entrust  their  ships 
to  young  persons,  who  have  frequently  been  only  one  year  at  sea. 
As  they  have  grown  up  in  the  business  of  the  compting-house,  they 
are  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  price,  the  quality,  and  the  sale  of 
each  different  commodity.  The  first  year  they  are  associated  with 
a  skilful  steersmate,  and  act  at  once  in  the  capacity  of  captain  and 
supercargo.  Their  vessels,  whatever  may  be  the  cause,  do  not  suffer 
ship-wreck  more  frequently  than  other  ships,  which  are  more  cautious- 
ly navigated.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years  these  young  people  become 
merchants  themselves,  the  captain's  profits  being  very  considerable. 
As  they  generally  are  appointed  from  the  families  of  merchants,  they 
receive  assistance  from  their  employers. 

The  inconveniences  which  Salem  experiences  from  the  shallowness 
of  its  harbour,  secure  them  against  all  hostile  attacks.  The  entrance 
to  the  haven  is  not  in  the  slightest  degree  defended,  nor  is  it,  indeed, 
capable  of  defence. 

I  was  upon  terms  of  great  intimacy. with  Mr.  Goodhue,  a  member 
of  the  Congress,  whom  I  had  seen  at  Philadelphia.  The  friendly  re- 
ception that  gentleman  gave  me,  and  the  patience  with  which  he  re- 
solved my  questions,  entitled  him  to  the  same  praise,  as  indeed  all 
the  persons  are  entitled  to,  whom  I  met  with  in  the  course  of  my 
long  journey.  Mr.  Goodhue  is  a  man  of  strong  intellect,  of  very 
plain  manners,  and  is  very  well  informed.  In  his  political  principles 
he  is  a  federalist,  and  of  course  an  advocate  for  the  treaty  with  Eng- 
land. The  town  of  Salem  entertains  the  same  opinion  as  he  does, 
in  this  respect,  chiefly  on  account  of  their  dread  of  a  war,  which  they 
consider  as  the  inevitable  consequence  of  the  non-ratification  of  the 
treaty. 

Before  I  take  my  leave  of  Salem,  I  must  remark,  that  the  day 
previous  to  my  departure,  a  vessel  arrived  in  this  port  from  Bordeaux, 


DUKE  DE  LA  ROCHEFOUCAULT-LIANCOURT   IN   1796.  109 

which  brought  a  great  quantity  of  silver  dishes  and  plates,  in  pay- 
ment for  flour,  which  had  been  sold  to  France.  The  plate  was  val- 
ued by  weight,  and  constituted  a  part  of  the  confiscated  property  of 
the  emigrants. 

Salem  is  the  capital  of  the  county  of  Essex,  and  contains,  upon  an 
average,  about  nine  thousand  inhabitants.  It  is  a  handsome  town, 
the  houses  are  good,  small,  and  neat,  and  perfectly  accord  with  the 
manner  of  the  inhabitants.  The  Senate  House  is  a  spacious,  and 
even  elegant  building. 

Salem  has  a  sail-cloth  manufactory,  which  employs  a  great  num- 
ber of  skilful  hands. 

This  town  is  the  second  settlement  erected  by  the  Europeans,  in 
the  Massachusetts.  It  was  begun  in  1628,  and  was  the  principal 
scene  of  the  cruelties,  which  ignorance,  superstition,  and  the  perse- 
cuting spirit  of  the  priests,  and  their  deluded  votaries,  inflicted,  in 
1692,  on  the  pretended  sorcerers. 

On  the  same  bay  with  Salem  lies  another  small  port,  which,  in  re- 
spect to  its  shipping,  is  of  greater  consequence  than  Beverley.  Mar- 
blehead,  which  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  rocks,  trades  only  in  stock 
fish.  All  the  men  are  so  entirely  occupied  in  fishing,  that  the  town, 
to  a  stranger,  who  passes  through  the  streets,  appears  to  be  solely 
inhabited  by  women  and  children,  all  of  whom  have  a  most  miser- 
able and  wretched  appearance.  Marblehead  has  a  custom-house,  and 
the  exports  from  this  place  consist  in  a  variety  of  articles,  the  value 
of  which,  in  1794,  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  thous- 
and dollars. 

Lynn,  which  is  dependent  upon  the  former  place,  is  another  small 
haven,  lying  nine  miles  nearer  to  Boston.  It  is  famous  for  its  shoe 
manufactory.  There  is  scarcely  a  house,  which  is  not  inhabited  by 
a  shoe-maker;  four  hundred  thousand  pairs,  most  of  the  women's 
shoes,  are  made  here  every  year.  This  port  carries  on  no  other  trade 
than  the  exportation  of  shoes  to  Boston,  New  York,  and  Philadelphia, 
from  which  places  a  great  number  are  sent  over  to  England.  A 
quantity  are  even  exported  directly  to  Europe  from  Lynn  itself. 


ROBERT  GILMOR  IN  1797. 

ROBERT  Gilmor  was  a  gentleman  of  large  fortune  who  lived  in 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  where  he  possessed  a  gallery  of  paintings 
and  sculpture  and  a  cabinet  of  minerals  and  coins.  His  father 
was  a  prosperous  merchant  and  the  son  travelled  widely  for  those 
days.  He  was  only  twenty-three  years  old  when  he  made  his  lour 
through  New  England  which  he  illustrated  with  pen  and  ink  sketches. 
He  was  famous  fur  his  hospitality  and  during  his  life  kept  volumin- 
ous journals  which  are  still  preserved  by  his  descendants.  He  died 
in  1848.  His  account  of  travels  in  Massachusetts  was  published  by 
the  Boston  Public  Library  in  its  Bulletin  for  April,  1892  under  the 
following  title :  Memorandums  made  in  a  tour  to  the  Eastern  States  in 
the  year  1797,  by  Robert  Gilmor. 

On  Thursday  afternoon,  Mr.  Hay,  (a  fellow  boarder)  &  I  took  our 
seats  in  the  Salem  Stage  and  at  Dark  arrived  at  Salem.  We  had 
time  to  visit  several  places  in  this  town,  particularly  the  wharves, 
where  we  saw  a  number  of  fine  vessels. 

This  place  carries  on  an  extensive  commerce  &  had  lately  (sent)  out 
more  East  Indiamen  than  all  the  rest  of  the  United  States  together. 
The  principal  merchant  here,  Mr  Derby,  has  just  built  a  most  superb 
house,  more  like  a  palace  then  the  dwelling  of  an  American  mer- 
chant. 

In  our  way  to  Salem  we  passed  through  a  number  of  pretty  little 
villages  one  of  which,  Lynn,  is  scarcely  inhabited  by  any  but  shoe- 
makers. This  little  town  supplies  even  the  Southern  States  with 
women  shoes  for  exportation.  The  women  work  also  and  we  scarce- 
ly passed  a  house  where  the  trade  was  not  carried  on.  A  woman 
can  make  four  pair  a  day  &  a  man  has  been  mentioned  to  me  who 
could  make  double  that  quantity. 

We  left  Salem  about  7  the  next  morning  in  the  Portsmouth  Stage 
which  left  Philada  (?)  *  that  day.  As  there  was  not  room  for  us  all, 
and  I  did  not  choose  to  be  left  behind,  I  agreed  wiih  Mr.  Hay  to  ride 
on  the  coachman's  box  with  him  alternately  for  25  miles,  when  one 

♦Probably  means  Boston. 

(110) 


ROBERT  GILMOR  IN   1797.  Ill 

of  the  passengers  left  us.  I  did  not  expect  to  find  the  seat  so  agre- 
able  but  after  a  little  I  preferred  it  to  an  inside  one.  After  riding 
45  miles  through  one  of  the  pleasantcst  countries  in  the  State,  we 
got  to  Portsmouth  in  the  evening  and  met  with  2  gentlemen  who 
had  boarded  with  us  at  Mrs  Archibald's  waiting  at  the  inn  the  stage 
stopped  at,  to  shew  us  lodgings  in  the  house  they  put  up  at. 

As  I  had  omitted  bringing  any  letters  to  some  respectable  person 
in  Portsmouth,  I  felt  rather  awkward  when  I  found  from  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  stages,  I  should  be  obliged  to  remain  here  two  days. 
The  gentlemen  who  came  with  me  had  several  letters,  by  means  of 
which  they  were  always  in  company.  A  Mr  Boyd  however  hearing 
I  had  come  along  with  M  Hay  politely  invited  me  to  dine  with  him 
on  Sunday  &  to  join  a  party  on  Saturday  evening  that  were  going  to 
Piscataqua  bridge,  which  is  the  only  one  of  the  kind  in  America  and 
a  surprizing  work.  It's  length  is  about  2200  feet,  including  a  small 
island  which  it  rests  upon  in  the  middle  of  the  river.  From  a  small 
rock  to  this  island  a  single  arch  of  240  feet  is  thrown  over  the  deep- 
est and  most  rapid  part  of  the  river.  It  is  handsomely  executed  and 
painted  white.  The  arch  is  not  supported  by  the  abutments  but  by 
braces  which  are  opposed  and  support  it  from  above.  While  the 
company  were  viewing  the  work  I  ran  about  half  a  mile  to  the  only 
place  where  I  could  get  a  tolerable  view  for  a  picture.  Then  seated 
on  a  rock  I  made  the  sketch  at  the  end  of  this  book,  which  part  I 
allotted  for  designs  of  such  objects  as  struck  me  during  my  tour  and 
which  could  be  comprehended  in  a  slight  sketch. 

About  dusk  it  began  to  rain,  and  we  were  obliged  to  wait  till  it 
was  over,  when  we  rode  back  in  our  chaises  to  Portsmouth  in  a  very 
dark  night.     This  bridge  is  distant  from  Ports.     6  1/2  miles. 

On  Sunday  I  dined  with  Mr  Boyd ;  in  the  evening  drank  tea  with 
Mrs  Bowman  (a  lady  lately  married  &  very  beautiful  who  was  so  polite 
as  to  ask  me  to  visit  her  while  I  staid  here.  She  was  very  agreable 
and  kept  up  the  spirits  of  the  company  with  a  great  deal  of  gaiety.) 

At  4  o'clock  on  Monday  afternoon  I  got  into  the  Stage  and  returned 
to  Boston  by  the  way  of  Exeter  &  Haverhill.  Both  of  which  are  very 
pretty  little  villages,  particularly  the  latter  which  is  situated  very  pleas- 
antly on  the  Banks  of  the  Merrimack.     Across   this  river  is  thrown 


112  Robert  gilmor  in  1797. 

one  of  the  new  constructed  bridges  like  that  of  Piscataqua,  only  this 
has  3  arches  instead  of  one,  and  the  work  which  supports  the  whole 
is  above  instead  of  being  just  below  the  bridge.  I  had  time  enough 
before  dinner  to  step  to  the  water's  edge  and  take  a  sketch  of  it. 
While  I  stood  there,  with  my  drawing  book  laid  upon  a  pile  of  plank 
Which  happened  to  be  convenient,  and  intent  on  my  work,  I  did  not 
observe  the  tide  which  rose  very  fast  and  on  looking  down  perceived 
myself  up  to  my  ancles  in  the  river.  The  water  rose  so  gradually 
that  I  did  not  feel  it  and  never  suspected  that  it  could  have  (been) 
the  case. 

The  next  day  after  leaving  Portsmouth  I  got  to  Boston  in  the 
evening  and  took  up  my  former  lodgings  at  Mrs  Archibald's. 

During  this  little  excursion  I  had  passed  thro'  a  number  of  pretty 
villages,  and  in  most  places  a  delightful  country.  The  road  by  which 
I  went  lay  through  all  the  principal  trading  towns  to  the  Eastward 
of  Boston,  and  in  a  great  part  in  sight  of  the  sea.  The  one  by  which 
I  returned  was  made  for  the  convenience  of  a  number  of  principal 
country  towns;  of  course  I  had  a  tolerable  opportunity  of  judging 
of  the  country. 

It  is  something  remarkable  that  the  people  of  New  England  in 
general  have  adopted  a  number  of  words  in  common  conversation  & 
which  they  interlard  their  discourse  continually,  that  are  not  used 
in  the  same  sense  by  the  other  part  of  America.  At  Portsmouth  in 
New  Hampshire  particularly  I  remembered  the  following.  If  I  ob- 
served such  a  thing  was  handsome,  they  would  answer  quite  hand- 
some. If  I  asked  the  way  or  an  opinion,  the  answer  always  was  pre- 
ceded by  I  guess,  so  &  so.  A  handsome  man  they  call  a  nice  man  & 
I  am  frequently  asked  how  long  I  mean  to  tarry  in  such  a  place,  or 
if  I  made  a  tarry  there.  These  and  some  other  expressions  are  com- 
mon to  a  fault,  and  are  used  even  by  the  best  informed  among  some 
of  us  travellers,  and  sometimes  in  company  we  would  fall  into  the 
same  fault  from  a  satirical  disposition. 


THE  STORY  OF  A  PEABODY  HOUSE  AND  ITS 
NEIGHBORHOOD 


By  Charles  Joel  Peabody 


I  think  it  is  John  Burroughs  who  says  in  one  of  his  books: — if 
we  could  have  the  history  of  one  of  these  old  houses  that  nestle  in 
the  valleys  or  crown  the  hills  of  the  country  side,  with  an  account 
of  a  family  who  have  occupied  it  for  several  generations,  we  should 
have  the  history  of  that  section  of  country  in  miniature.  We  could 
trace  the  development  of  the  country,  the  progress  of  manufactures 
and  the. introduction  of  all  those  improvements  that  make  the  life  of 
today  richer  and  broader  than  that  of  the  early  days.  It  is  with 
this  thought  in  mind  that  I  shall  try  to  tell  the  story  of  our  house 
on  the  hill.  I  am  greatly  helped  to  do  this  by  the  fact  that  my 
grandfather  who  built  it  kept  a  record  book  in  which  he  set  down  in 
detail  the  account  of  the  building  of  the  house ;  the  wages  paid  the 
workmen ;  the  sales  of  farm  produce;  the  prices  paid  for  groceries  ; 
the  value  of  cattle  and  all  the  principal  events  in  which  he  took  part. 
We  may  thus  learn,  as  Burroughs  suggests,  much  of  the  life  of  the 
community  as  it  is  reflected  in  this  old  account  book. 

I  will  give  you  the  history  of  the  house  and  then  events  about  it. 
The  property  appears  to  have  been  in  the  Towne  family  prior  to 
Apr.  10,  1777  when  Jeremiah  Towne  deeded  it  to  John  Dwinell  and 
Cornelius  Balch  and  referred  to  the  part  on  the  north  side  of  the 
road  as  the  homestead  estate.  Nine  days  later  they  deeded  it  to 
Nathaniel  Richardson  of  Salem  who  sold  it  in  1782  to  my  great- 
grandfather, John  Peabody.  The  old  deed  mentions  "five  certain 
pieces  or  parcels  of  land  situated  in  Topsfield,  with  the  buildings 
thereon  and  the  orcharding  that  thereon  is,  containing  forty-two 
acres  be  the  same  more  or  less."  The  deed  then  proceeds  to  bound 
the  various  pieces  of  land.  "The  buildings  thereon"  were  a  house, 
we  do  not  know  how  old  it  then  was,  and  a  barn.  This  house  now 
forms  the  eastern  half  of  our  present  house.  The  forty-two  acres 
were  enlarged  about  this  time  by  the  purchase  of  a  piece  of  land  be- 
longing to  a  Balch. 

John  Peabody  bought  this  house  and  land  for  his  son  John,  who 
was  my  grandfather.  He  served  in  the  early  part  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war   and  had  been   married  two   years  before   this  time.     My 

(113) 


114  THE  STORY  OF  A  PEABODY  HOUSE  AND  ITS  NEIGHBORHOOD. 

great  grandfather  lived  in  the  house  at  the  corner  of  the  Salem  road 
where  James  Waters  used  to  live  and  latterly  owned  by  Alden  Pea- 
body.     This  is  one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  town. 

John  Peabody,  Jun.  and  his  wife  Lydia,  had  a  large  family.  The 
names  of  the  children  were  Nabby,  John,  Aaron,  Hannah,  Daniel 
and  Lydia  who  were  twins,  Joel  and  David.  With  this  large  family 
there  was  not  room  enough  in  the  original  house  so  in  1807  my 
grandfather,  being  prospered  in  his  business,  decided  to  build  an  ad- 
dition. The  front  door  of  the  original  house  was  in  the  western 
corner  of  the  front  of  the  house.  There  were  two  windows  at  the 
right  of  it.  The  addition  was  put  on  so  that  the  front  door  would 
be  in  the  middle  of  the  house  with  two  windows  on  each  side.  Grand- 
father made  a  three  day's  journey  to  Quincy  with  his  ox  team  to  get 
some  granite  blocks  for  the  foundation.  The  blocks  were  so  long  it 
only  took  two  to  go  the  entire  width  of  the  house.  The  four  granite 
steps  for  the  front  door  were  obtained  at  the  same  time. 

Grandfather  kept  a  careful  account  of  the  work  done  on  the  house. 
Here  are  a  few  quotations  from  his  account  book : — 

July  30,  1807.  Lane,  Calip  Rollins  and  Brown  came  and  began 
to  hew  my  timber. 

Aug.  5.  Mr.  Wildes  came  and  began  the  frame  with  Calip  and 
Brown. 

Aug.  14.     Got  under  all  the  timbers  and  raised  the  new  end. 

Sept.  1.     At  noon  Gould  began  on  the  chimney. 

Sept.  4.     Gould  finished  the  chimney. 

The  carpenters  staid  until  December  when  we  find  under  date  of 
Dec.  10,  "Lane  and  Brown  went  home  for  good." 

The  front  chamber  of  the  new  half  was  used  for  a  spinning  and 
weaving  room.  Here  the  cloth  of  the  family  was  made  and  here  the 
hum  of  the  spinning  wheel  was  heard,  now  superceded  by  the  buzz 
of  the  sewing  machine. 

In  1810  a  new  barn  was  built.  There  was  a  great  gathering  at 
the  raising.  Mr.  Zaccheus  Gould,  the  father  of  the  late  John  H. 
Gould,  was  present  and  late  in  life  said  to  me  that  it  was  a  great 
occasion.  Every  man  and  boy  who  could  be  was  there.  Over  fifty 
sat  down  to  the  supper  that  was  served  afterward.  Mr.  Gould  was 
the  last  survivor  of  those  who  were  present. 

Of  the  children  who  lived  in  the  house  the  oldest  daughter  Nabby, 
married  a  Wildes.  Mr.  William  H.  Wildes  is  her  grandson.  The 
oldest  son,  John,  went  to  Peabody,  then  South  Danvers,  where  he 
manufactured  shoes.  He  was  the  father  of  the  late  Augustine  S. 
Peabody,  who  lived  in  this  town,  and  of  John  Peabody  of  South  Dan- 


THE  STORY  OF  A  PEABODY  HOUSE  AND    ITS  NEIGHBORHOOD.   115 

vers,  so  long  a  partner  of  Stephen  B.  Ives,  the  great  lawyer.  Aaron 
went  into  business  in  Boston  where  he  soon  after  died.  Hannah 
married  and  moved  to  Bucksport,  Maine,  where  her  descendants 
still  live.  Daniel  died  at  home.  Lydia  married  and  went  to  New 
Hampshire  to  live.  Joel  married  and  remained  at  home  and  carried 
on  the  farm.  The  youngest  son  David,  went  to  Dartmouth  College. 
Before  he  completed  his  course  he  went  South  to  tutor  the  son  of  a 
Southern  gentleman  and  while  there  wrote  home  many  letters  some 
of  which  were  printed  in  Topsfield  Historical  Collections,  Vol.  XX. 
Returning  from  the  South  he  finished  his  college  course  and  then 
entered  the  ministry  and  for  several  years  preached  at  Lynn  and 
afterward  at  Worcester.  From  Worcester  he  was  summoned  to  a 
professorship  at  Dartmouth  which  he  accepted  and  there  he  died. 

One  of  the  traditions  of  the  family  is  that  when  David  was  at  home 
on  vacations  from  college,  he  often  had  some  essay  to  prepare.  He 
never  would  read  it  to  the  family  but  would  go  to  the  attic  and  read 
it  as  forcibly  as  he  could.  The  family  would  wait  until  he  was  well 
started  and  then  would  go  to  the  attic  door  and  listen.  We  may 
imagine  the  group  standing  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs  while  the  young 
orator  above  was  reading  with  all  his  might  unconscious  of  their 
presence.     It  is  said  that  he  also  rehearsed  his  first  sermons  here. 

In  1840  the  farm  came  near  being  sold.  It  was  bargained  for  by  a 
Salem  man  whose  property  was  all  in  a  vessel.  At  the  time  she 
was  on  a  voyage  to  the  East  Indies  and  when  she  returned  her  owner 
expected  to  buy  the  farm  and  enjoy  his  fortune.  He  received  news 
that  his  ship  reached  her  destination  in  safety,  had  disposed  of  her 
cargo  with  great  profit  and  had  started  on  her  return.  This  was 
the  last  news  ever  heard  of  her.  As  his  ship  never  came  in  the  dis- 
appointed man  was  obliged  to  give  up  his  plan  to  buy  the  farm. 

About  1843  a  small  ell  was  added  to  the  back  of  the  house.  It 
was  moved  from  the  Dwinell  place.  This  gave  the  house  its  present 
form.  Although  the  outside  has  never  been  altered  various  changes 
have  been  made  within.  The  rooms  have  been  divided  differently 
and  some  conveniences  have  been  added.  But  the  large  old  fashioned 
fireplace,  which  was  built  in  1807,  is  still  in  the  kitchen  though  it  is 
not  now  used.  In  the  front  room  in  the  oldest  part  of  the  house  the 
cross-beam  in  the  ceiling  and  the  corner  posts  still  remind  us  of  the 
early  days. 

From  the  old  record  book  it  appears  that  my  grandfather  kept  two 
or  three  horses  that  often  were  hired  by  his  neighbors  for  journeys 
to  the  neighboring  towns.  John  Balch,  a  shoemaker,  hired  a  horse 
about  once  a  week  to  go  to  Marblehead  with  the  shoes  that  he  had 
made.     Often  a  man  would  hire  a  horse  to  go  to  mill,  sometimes  to 


116  THE  STORY  OF  A  PEABODY  HOUSE  AND  ITS  NEIGHBORHOOD. 

the  old  Peabody  mill  on  the  Ipswich  road.  On  other  times  horses 
would  be  hired  to  go  to  Danvers,  Salem  or  other  towns  where  busi- 
ness called  them.  At  first  the  travel  was  on  horse  back.  On  trips 
to  the  mill  the  corn  would  be  divided  and  placed  in  the  ends  of  the 
bag  so  that  it  would  balance  on  the  horse's  back.  The  story  is  told 
that  one  man  in  town  always  put  the  corn  in  one  end  of  the  bag  and 
a  large  stone  weighing  about  sixty  pounds  in  the  other,  whenever 
he  went  to  mill  and  being  asked  why  he  carried  the  stone  replied 
there  was  no  other  way  to  make  the  bag  stay  on.  He  was  much  as- 
tonished when  the  miller  after  a  time  showed  him  how  to  divide  the 
corn  and  preserve  the  balance. 

In  the  year  1810  the  chaise  is  mentioned  as  being  let  for  the  vari- 
ous journeys  and  in  1812  "my  horse  wagon"  was  used  often.  It  is  a 
family  tradition  that  this  horse  wagon  was  the  second  owned  in  town 
and  was  in  great  demand  at  first,  a  ride  in  a  wagon  then  being  as 
great  a  novelty  as  one  in  an  automobile  when  they  first  were  known 
among  us.  The  prices  paid  for  these  various  trips  were  as  follows: 
for  a  horse  to  ride  to  any  neighboring  town,  four  cents  per  mile;  for 
a  horse  and  chaise  to  Salem,  fifty  cents ;  and  at  about  the  rate  of  six 
cents  per  mile  to  other  places.  The  wagon  was  let  without  a  horse 
for  two  cents  per  mile. 

The  roads  of  that  time  were  very  poor  when  compared  with  even 
the  poorest  we  know  at  the  present  time.  My  grandmother  told  me 
that  when  she  came  to  the  farm  in  1782  there  were  two  oak  stumps 
in  the  road  between  the  house  and  the  corner  at  what  is  now  Salem 
street.  One  of  them  was  seven  feet  in  diameter  and  the  other  was 
five  feet  so  that  the  road  went  round  them,  first  to  the  wall  on  one 
side  and  just  beyond  clear  over  to  the  other  side.  It  was  easy  enough 
with  a  saddle  horse  but  when  the  wagon  came  the  stumps  were  got 
rid  of. 

An  interesting  custom  of  those  days  was  the  barter  and  trade 
method  instead  of  direct  payment  of  money.  Very  little  money  was 
in  circulation.  The  old  book  contains  many  accounts  where  numer- 
ous articles  of  farm  produce  and  day's  work  were  charged  to  a  neigh- 
bor and  offset  by  articles  received  from  him  at  the  end  of  the  year. 
The  account  was  settled  and  signed  by  both  men,  a  balance  of  a  few 
shillings  or  pence  being  paid  if  convenient  or  if  not,  it  was  the  first 
item  of  a  new  account  for  the  next  year.  One  account  is  of  special 
interest  for  in  the  year  1814  we  find  that  yarn  was  sold  from  the 
farm.  In  1816  mention  is  made  of  the  sale  of  yards  of  cloth. 
Sheep  always  were  kept  until  1840  and  the  sale  of  wool  appears  in 
small  quantities  of  two  or  three  pounds  as  a  customer  might  require. 
The  sale  of  meat  in  those  days  was  a  local  traffic  among  the  farmers. 


THE  STORY  OF  A  PEABODY  HOUSE  AND   ITS  NEIGHBORHOOD.   117 

Frequent  sales  of  lamb,  mutton,  pork,  and  in  winter,  of  beef,  are  re- 
corded in  the  various  accounts. 

The  prices  of  labor  from  1800  to  1820,  in  a  general  way,  were  one 
dollar  per  day.  The  master  carpenter  who  built  the  house  in  1807  was 
paid  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  and  his  dinner.  The  journeymen  re- 
ceived one  dollar  per  day  and  the  apprentices  seventy-five  cents.  The 
blacksmith  who  made  the  nails  with  which  the  house  was  put  to- 
gether charged  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  a  day  for  forging,  one  dollar 
for  sharpening  and  fifty  cents  was  paid  for  pointing  by  a  boy.  Farm 
labor  also  was  a  dollar  per  day  for  all  kinds  of  work. 

The  high  cost  of  living  did  not  perplex  men's  minds  in  those  days 
as  it  does  now.  My  grandfather  took  boarders  from  Salem  and 
Dan  vers  at  two  dollars  per  week  for  men  and  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  for  women.  It  is  a  tradition  in  the  family  that  when  the  turn- 
pike was  built  my  grandmother  wanting  a  little  easy  money  took 
six  of  the  workmen  to  board  at  two  dollars  per  week  and  found  to 
her  surprize  that  it  was  costing  two  dollars  and  a  half  to  feed  them 
as  she  planned  her  meals.  In  her  perplexity  she  appealed  to  Doctor 
Cleaveland,  the  physician  and  adviser  of  the  countryside.  "Ho !  You 
feed  them  too  well,"  said  he.  "I  will  give  you  a  bill  of  fare  that  you 
can  make  money  on."  So  he  wrote  out  twenty-one  meals  that  came 
within  the  limit.  She  tried  it  out,  the  men  were  satisfied,  and  she 
made  a  profit  of  twenty-five  cents  per  man  per  week  and  was  happy. 

Some  touches  of  town-life  appear  in  the  record.  Under  date  of 
May  20, 1820  we  read:— 


Moses  Dorman,  one  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  said  town,  Dr. 

To  time  spent  in  attending  and  providing  for  the  funeral  of  Cesar 

Estey. 

To  time 

$1.00 

To  1  qt  of  West  India  Rum 

.28 

To  1  pint  of  Wine 

.15 

To  1  pound  of  Shugar 

.12  1/2 

To  Bread  - 

.17 

May  30.     To  myself  and  team  1/2  day  and  taking 

care  of  Ceassers  things 

1.25 

To  1  lb  Shugar 

.12  1/2 

To  2  oz  tea 

.12  1/2 

To  1  qt  of  H  Rum 

.11 

To  15  crackers 

.12  1/2 

To  1  qt  H  Rum 

.11 

To  2  lbs  bacon 

.25 

To  Miss  Townes  assistance 

.50 

118  THE  STORY  OF  A  PEABODY  HOUSE  AND   ITS  NEIGHBORHOOD. 

May  15.     To  myself  and  oxen  and  wagon  1/2  day 
collecting  Ceassers  effects  and  some 
of  Phillises  furniture  and  transport- 
ing them  to  the  hotel  1.25 

Other  records  appear  as  follows: 

May  20.  Eliphalet  Skinner  to  John  Peabody  Dr. 

To  cash  paid  for  recording  his  power  [of  attorney]  .60 

June  6,  1818.     Mr.  Daniel  Estey  to  John  Peabody  Dr. 

To  time  and  expense  to  Salem  in  order  to  find 
and  consult  Mr  Saltonstall  Esq.  on 
the  Case  between  said  Estey  and 
his  son  Richard  .50 

June  8.  To  Journey  to  Salem,  myself  and  Chaise    1.25 

Sept.  7.    To  1/2  day  spent  in  the  above  business      .20 

14-15.     To  time  spent  in  trying  to  effect  a  settle- 
ment between  Estey  and  son  Richard     1.25 

To  Cash  paid  to  N.  Cleayeland  for  writing  .75 

17.  To  Journey  to  Salem  to  carry  the  money 
and  make  settlement  with  Richard 
and  his  Attorney  1.25 

Nov.  30,  1816.     The  Town  of  Topsfield  Dr. 

To  1  days  work  repairing  the  School  house  1.00 

To  28  ft.  boards  .56 

To  200  shingles  .37 

To  Lime,  sand  and  hair  .56 

To  Bricks  .56 

To  Nails  .29 

July  12,  1817.    To  Town  of  Topsfield  Dr. 
To  journey  to  Salem  Myself  horse  and  wagon 

to  bring  up  William  Monies  and  son, 

he  having  made  a  complaint  1.50 

To  seven  yards  of  Calico  for  the  widow  of 

Michael  Thomas  at  25  a  yard  1,75 

To  a  2rd  hat  for  Wm  Fisk  .50 

To  5  yards  of  Ticking  cotton  for  Nance  a  Negro 

woman  at  .30  per  yard  1.50 

To  a  gallon  of  New  Rum  for  the  workmen  on 

the  Joseph  [Towne]  Bridge  .60 

So  we  might  go  on  with  the  old  account  book  but  enough  has  been 
abstracted  to  show  that  the  life  in  the  old  days  was  not  unlike  our 


THE  STORY  OF  A  PEABODY  HOUSE  AND  ITS  NEIGHBORHOOD.   119 

own.  That  the  school  and  the  care  of  the  poor  were  burdens  rest- 
ing on  the  town  then  as  now.  That  able  men  were  selected  by  their 
neighbors  to  settle  disputes  and  adjust  differences.  The  price  of 
most  articles  has  advanced.  In  a  hundred  years  cattle  have  increased 
in  value  three  or  four  times.  One  appraisal  of  cows  gives  the  value 
as  thirty  dollars,  cash.  Now  they  taxed  at  one  hundred  dollars. 
Sheep  were  valued  at  three  dollars,  now  they  are  fifteen  dollars. 
Horses  were  seventy-five  dollars,  now  two  hundred.  Pork  was  eight 
cents  a  pound,  now  twenty.  Among  the  usual  articles  of  trade  in  the 
old  book  are  yarn,  homespun  cloth,  flax,  flax  seed,  hemp,  and  bees-wax. 

About  1840  an  unusual  outbreak  of  bankruptcy  attacked  our  town. 
No  less  than  eight  cases  were  heard  and  adjusted  by  my  father  in 
two  years  time  as  recorded  on  some  pages  of  the  old  book  that  my 
grandfather  had  not  used.  Whether  some  new  law  had  been  passed 
or  some  era  of  speculation  had  bewitched  the  town  1  do  not  know, 
but  turning  the  leaves  of  the  book  I  was  surprised  to  find,  without 
explanation  or  comment,  the  record  of  the  issuance  of  papers,  the  ex- 
amination of  estates  and  the  legal  proceeding  in  every  debtor  case. 

A  single  entry  in  the  account  book  records  the  sale  of  six  mulberry 
trees  to  Israel  Rea  and  thus  brings  to  mind  the  silkworm  industry 
that  at  one  time  was  thought  to  afford  the  opportunity  to  the  women 
of  the  household  to  get,  if  not  silk  dresses,  at  least  the  money  to  buy 
cotton  ones.  The  white  mulberry  was  the  variety  cultivated.  The 
silk  worms  were  confined  on  shelves  ranged  along  the  side  of  a  room 
with  netting  placed  in  front  to  prevent  their  escape  and  were  fed 
with  the  leaves  of  the  mulberry  cut  fresh  from  the  tree  twice  a  day. 
They  would  eat  much  as  the  gypsy  caterpillar  does  and  it  was  all 
that  one  person  could  do  to  tend  them  while  they  were  growing,  a 
period  of  about  six  weeks.  After  attaining  full  size  they  spun  co- 
coons, from  which  the  silk  was  obtained.  At  the  close  of  the  season 
a  man  came  around  and  bought  up  the  cocoons  from  farm  to  farm. 
The  industry  was  short  lived,  however,  as  after  a  year  or  two  a  dis- 
ease attacked  the  worms  and  destroyed  most  of  them.  The  price 
received  for  the  cocoons  was  not  enough  to  pay  for  the  work  unless 
a  full  crop  was  secured  and  so  passed  what  was  fondly  hoped  to  be 
a  light  and  profitable  employment  for  the  daughters  of  the  farmers 
of  Topsfield. 

It  is  apparent  from  the  pages  of  the  old  book  that  the  routine  of 
the  farm  work  was  much  the  same  then  as  now.  Then,  however, 
several  days  each  year  were  spent  in  the  cutting  of  peat.  This  in- 
dustry continued  until  the  introduction  of  coal  which  began  to  be 
used  by  the  farmers  about  the  year  1854.  The  new  fuel  was  much 
cleaner  than  the  peat  and  required  so  little  labor  to  secure  it  that  by 


120  THE  STORY  OF  A   PEABODY  HOUSE  AND  ITS  NEIGHBORHOOD. 

degrees  the  peat  meadows  were  neglected,  the  small  houses  built  to 
dry  the  peat  fell  into  decay,  and  now  the  whole  industry  is  forgotten. 

In  its  day  the  peat  meadow  was  as  essential  to  the  comfort  of  the 
household  as  was  the  wood  lot.  My  grandfather  owned  two  mea- 
dows from  which  the  peat  was  cut  each  year.  The  light  peat  was 
used  to  burn  in  the  spring  and  fall  and  the  hard  or  heavier  quality 
was  used  in  the  winter  to  keep  the  fire  through  the  night  in  the  fire- 
place. I  well  remember  being  told  how  to  fix  the  fire  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  ashes  were  to  be  pushed  back,  the  coals  allowed  to  kindle 
to  a  bright  red,  then  a  block  of  peat  about  four  inches  square  and 
fifteen  to  eighteen  inches  long  would  be  layed  on  the  coals,  a  second 
piece  placed  on  that  and  then  ashes  piled  around  and  over  the  top. 
It  then  was  safe  till  morning.  When  raked  open,  the  fire  for  the 
day  was  started  with  the  help  of  the  half-burned  peat.  The  great 
objection  to  its  use  was  the  odor,  penetrating  and  peculiar.  It  also 
was  a  dirty  fuel,  for  fine  particles  would  break  off  as  it  was  brought 
into  the  house  in  baskets. 

The  peat  was  cut  in  the  meadow  with  a  long,  narrow  spade,  in 
blocks  about  four  inches  in  diameter  and  fifteen  to  twenty-four  inches 
long.  When  cut  these  blocks  were  layed  on  a  wide  board  at  the  side 
of  the  ditch  and  afterwards  were  removed  to  a  suitable  place  to 
dry  by  an  assistant  who  lifted  them  with  a  peculiar  fork  with  spikes 
for  teeth,  and  piled  them  up  to  dry  for  a  few  weeks  when  they  would 
be  housed  in  a  small  building  standing  on  the  meadow,  called  the 
"turf  house."  As  the  peat  was  found  in  the  meadow  there  would 
be  a  thick  mass  of  grass  roots  which  was  removed  with  a  tool  called 
a  "topping  knife,"  a  strong  blade  like  a  short  scythe  set  in  a  handle 
at  such  an  angle  that  the  weight  of  the  workman,  as  well  as  his 
strength,  forced  it  into  the  ground.  Every  farm  had  its  set  of  these 
tools.  As  a  boy  I  often  heard  the  talk  of  the  neighbors  about  the 
different  qualities  of  the  peat  and  well  recall  the  remark  of  a  man 
of  picturesque  language: — "By  tarnation!  I  had  just  as  soon  have  a 
sheet  of  paper  to  burn  as  a  cord  of  peat  from  Wenham  casey  meadow. 
If  you  want  peat  to  burn,  you  go  cut  it  over  in  Blind  Hole  where  it 
is  so  good  that  a  piece  not  bigger  than  my  hat  will  heat  the  house 
so  hot  when  its  down  to  zero  that  my  wife  has  to  open  all  the  doors 
and  windows." 

The  price  for  a  cord  was  from  five  to  eight  dollars  and  many  who 
could  not  cut  or  who  did  not  own  peat  land  bought  from  neighbors. 
A  familiar  sight  was  the  ox-team  with  its  load  of  peat,  in  the  street 
of  our  Village  in  those  now  distant  days. 

And  now  as  I  close  I  return  to  the  thought  of  my  opening  para- 
graph and  ask  you  to  recognize  in  the  history  of  our  house  and  fam- 
ily a  bit  of  the  history  of  the  town  and  country. 


RECORDS  OF  MEETINGS  OF  THE  CITIZENS  AND 

COMMITTEE   OF  ARRANGEMENTS   FOR  THE  CELEBRATION 

OF  THE  TWO  HUNDREDTH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE 

SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  TOPSFIELD,  1850. 


Communicated  by  Leone  P.  Welch 


Preamble  and  Resolutions  offered  and  adopted  at  a  Meeting  of  the 
citizens  of  Topsfield  held  at  the  Academy,  February  the  4th,  1850. 

Dr.  R.  A.  Merriam  chosen  Chairman  and  John  G.  Hood  chosen 
Secretary. 

Preamble 

Whereas — In  the  history  of  events,  which  have  transpired,  in  the 
course  of  time,  in  the  civilized  world,  the  observance  of  important 
epochs,  have  been  practised,  from  time  immemorial,  and  the  practice 
is  becoming  more  and  more  common;  descending  from  National  to 
Municipal  and  even  to  individual  and  personal  concernment  only : — 
and  whereas  the  very  few  senior  towns  around  us,  have  very  gener- 
ally commemorated  their  Bi-centennial  birthdays,  Clergymen  and 
others  their  half  and  quarter  centenerary  settlements: — 

We  should  be  behind  the  age  if  we  did  not  notice  in  some  appro- 
priate manner  our  Two  Hundredth  Municipal  Anniversary.  We 
owe  it  to  those  who  have  gone  before,  as  well  as  to  those,  who  shall 
come  after  us,  no  less  than  to  ourselves,  who  are  now  enjoying  the 
benefits  of  the  very  judicious  and  hardy  pioneers  of  our  beloved  town. 

Resolutions 

Therefore — Resolved — That  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of 
the  Incorporation  of  the  Town  of  Topsfield,  happening  this  year 
A.  D.  1850,  it  is  expedient  to  observe  it  sometime  in  the  month  of 
September  with  a  public  celebration  and  dinner  by  the  Inhabitants. 

Resolved — That  in  connection  with  the  above  resolution,  some 
suitable  person,  native  of  the  town,  be  invited  to  prepare  and  deliver 
an  address  on  the  occasion ; — Also  other  persons  connected  with 
the  town,  be  requested  to  prepare  poems  to  be  read  or  sung. 

Resolved — That  the  Choir  of  Topsfield  be  requested  to  select  and 
perform  music,  from  native  origin  on  the  occasion. 

(121) 


122  RECORDS   OF  THE  BI-CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEE,    1850. 

Resolved — That  a  Committee  of  five  be  chosen,  by  ballot,  to  carry 
into  effect  the  foregoing  resolutions,  to  be  called  the  "Committee  of 
Arrangements." 

The  foregoing  Resolutions,  having  been  adopted  by  the  meeting, 
it  was  Voted — That  a  Committee  of  three  be  appointed  by  the  Chair- 
man to  report  the  names  of  persons  for  a  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments. 

The  Committee  reported  the  names  of  William  N.  Cleaveland, 
Royal  A.  Merriam,  John  Wright.  John  Wright  declined  serving  and 
Asa  Pingree  was  appointed  and  then  chosen  as  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements. 

Voted— That  at  the  dinner  Ladies  be  admitted  to  the  table  by 
tickets. 

Voted — to  adjourn  the  meeting  to  Monday  eve  next  the  11th  inst, 

JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

A  Meeting  of  the  citizens  was  held  at  the  Academy  on  Monday 
eve  agreeable  to  adjournment. 

R.  A.  Merriam,  Chairman 
John  G.  Hood,  Secretary 

Voted — That  two  more  be  chosen  to  the  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments. 

Asa  Pingree  then  declined  serving  whereupon  it  was  Voted — That 
a  Committee  be  appointed  by  the  Chairman  to  report  the  names  of 
three  persons,  who. reported — William  Munday,  John  Hood  and 
Joseph  W.  Batchelder  who  were  then  chosen. 

Voted — to  add  two  more  Committee  to  the  five  already  chosen  and 
Jacob  P.  Towne  and  John  G.  Hood  were  chosen,  thus  making  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements  consist  of  seven  persons. 

Voted  to  adjourn  sine  die. 

JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

1850.  A  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  arrangements  held  at  the 
house  of  John  G.  Hood  on  the  eve  of  the  14th  inst — an  organization 
was  made  by  the  choice  of  R.  A.  Merriam  as  Chairman  and  John  G. 
Hood  as  Secretary  of  the  board. 

Voted  to  adjourn  to  Monday  eve  the  18th  of  Feb.  inst.  at  the  house 
of  J.  G.  Hood. 

JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

The  Committee  met  agreeable  to  adjournment  and  it  was  Voted — 
that  the  Committee  now  ballot  for  a  person  to  deliver  an  address  on 
the  occasion  of  celebrating  the  contemplated  Anniversary  of  celebrat- 
ing its  Incorporation  and  Nehemiah  Cleaveland  Esq.  of   Brooklyn, 


RECORDS   OF  THE  BI-CENTENNIAL   COMMITTEE,    1850.  123 

N.  Y.  son  of  the  late  Nehemiah  Cleaveland  of  Topsfield  was  chosen 
unanimously  to  deliver  said  address. 

Voted — that  W.  N.  Cleaveland  extend  the  invitation  in  behalf  of 
the  Committee. 

Voted — that  the  Committee  now  ballot  for  a  person  to  write  (and 
if  practicable),  to  deliver  a  poem  on  the  occasion — and  Miss  Hannah 
Flagg  Gould  of  Newburyport  was  unanimously  chosen  she  being  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Capt.  Benjamin  Gould  who  was  a  native  of  Tops- 
field  and  an  Officer  of  the  Revolution. 

Voted — that  R.  A.  Merriam  extend  the  invitation  in  behalf  of  the 
Committee. 

Voted — that  a  request  be  extended  to  Jacob  Hood  Esq.  of  Salem 
for  an  Original  Hymn  &  music  set  to  it. 

Voted— that  a  similar  request  be  extended  to  Rev.  George  Hood  of 
Bath,  N.  Y.,  for  an  original  Hymn  or  Hymns  with  music  set  to  it  or 
them  to  be  sung  on  the  occasion — they  both  having  been  natives  of 
this  town. 

Voted — that  John  G.  Flood  extend  the  invitations  in  behalf  of  the 
Committee. 

Voted — That  an  invitation  be  extended  to  the  Rev.  Josiah  Peabody, 
now  a  Missionary  at  Ezzroom  in  Asia  for  a  communication  to  be 
read  on  the  occasion — he  being  a  native  of  this  town. 

Voted — that  Jacob  P.  Towne  extend  the  invitation  in  behalf  of 
Committee. 

Voted — to  adjourn  to  Thursday  eve  the  28th  of  Feb.  inst. 

JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

The  Committee  met  agreeable  to  adjournment — A  communication 
was  presented  from.  Nehemiah  Cleaveland  stating  that  he  accepted 
the  invitation  to  deliver  the  address  on  the  occasion  and  also  wishing 
that  the  time  might  be  changed  to  the  last  week  in  August. 

Voted — to  extend  an  invitation  to  Mrs.  Sarah  D.  Peabody,  wife  of 
Dea.  Joel  R.  Peabody  for  an  Original  Ode  or  Hymn,  to  be  read  or 
sung  on  the  occasion.  . 

Voted — that  a  List  of  names  be  prepared,  comprising  &  containing 
the  names  of  those  persons  who  now  reside  in  other  places,  but  who 
descended  from  Topsfield. 

Voted — to  adjourn  to  Tuesday  eve  the  12th  of  March  next  at  the 
house  of  John  G.  Hood. 

JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

The  Committee  met  agreeable  to  adjournment  and  it  was  voted — 
that  the  Celebration  take  place  on  Thursday  the  29th  day  of  August 
next. 


124  RECORDS  OF  THE  Bl-CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEE,   1850. 

Voted — that  a  Circular  be  prepared  and  printed  in  which  an  invita- 
tion shall  be  extended  to  those  persons  who  descended  from  Tops- 
field  and  now  reside  in  other  places. 

1850.  The  Committee  met  on  the  eve  of  the  18th  of  March  inst. 
A  circular  being  presented  by  R.  A.  Merriam  for  consideration  and 
acceptance. 

Voted — that  it  be  accepted  and  printed. 

Voted — that  the  public  exercises  on  the  occasion  commence  at  11 
o'clock  A.  M.      Voted  to  adjourn  to  Thursday  the  28th  inst. 

JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

The  Committee  on  the  eve  of  the  28th  inst.  met — and  adjourned  to 
April  11th.  JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

April  11.  The  Committee  met  agreeable  to  the  adjournment — 
R.  A.  Merriam  reported  that  Miss  Hannah  F.  Gould  of  Newburyport 
declined  the  request  tendered  her  for  a  Poem  but  would  write  an 
Ode  for  the  occasion. 

Voted — that  Mr.  Munday  make  enquiries  for  what  a  Dinner  can 
be  obtained  for  on  the  occasion  and  report  at  next  meeting. 

Voted  to  adjourn.  JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

1850.  May  2d.  The  Committee  met  and  Mr.  Munday  reported 
that  a  Dinner  would  be  provided  by  John  Wright  of  Boston,  under  a 
"pavilion"  for  one  dollar  pr.  ticket. 

Voted — that  John  G.  Hood  obtain  and  superscribe  the  printed 
"Circulars"  to  all  the  absent  sons  or  daughters  known. 

Voted — that  Messrs  Wm.  N.  Cleaveland  and  Jos.  W.  Batchelder  be 
a  Committee  to  procure  such  "Martial  Music"  for  the  occasion  as 
they  may  think  proper. 

Voted  to  adjourn. 

JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

May  9. — The  Committee  met  as  adjournment. 

Voted — that  John  G.  Hood  obtain  subscription  Books  for  the  Din- 
ner and  have  them  opened  ready  for  signatures  at  the  next  meeting 
of  Committee. 

Voted — that  Subscription  Book  be  sent  to  some  other  places  for 
signatures. 

Voted— to  adjourn.  JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

1850.  May  16.  The  Committee  met— John  G.  Hood  presented  a 
Book  for  subscriptions  for  the  Dinner  tickets  and  it  was  opened  for 
signatures. 

Voted — that  J.  P.  Towne   and  R.  A.  Merriam   be  a  Committee  to 


RECORDS  OF  THE  BI-CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEE,    1850.  125 

invite  the  singing  Choirs  to  perform  the  sacred  music  at  the  celebra- 
tion.    Voted  to  adjourn.  JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

May  30.  The  Committee  met — Voted — That  an  invitation  be  ex- 
tended to  Maj.  Nath1.  Conant  now  resident  at  Saco,  Maine,  to  be 
"Chief  Marshal"  of  the  day. 

Voted  that  John  G.  Hood  prepare  a  device  and  obtain  1,000  tickets 
for  to  be  sold  to  subscribers,  for  dinner. 

Voted  to  adjourn.  JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

June  14.  The  Committee  met — A  letter  was  read  from  Maj. 
Nath1.  Conant  accepting  the  invitation  as  Marshal. 

Voted  to  adjourn.  JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

1850.  July  30.  The  Committee  met — John  Wright  of  Boston  was 
present  and  contracted  "to  provide  the  Dinner  at  one  dollar  pr  ticket. 

Voted — that  R.  A.  Merriam  and  Nehemiah  Cleaveland  prepare  sen- 
timents, and  inform  the  Individuals  expected  to  respond  to  the  same. 

Voted — that  W.  N.  Cleaveland  and  John  G.  Hood  be  a  Committee 
to  prepare  a  Programme  and  submit  it  at  a  future  meeting. 

Voted— -to  choose  a  President  for  the  day  and  Dr.  Elisha  Hunting- 
ton of  Lowell  was  chosen. 

Voted — that  there  be  seven  Vice  Presidents.  Resolved — that  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements  with  the  Chairman  of  the  Selectmen  be 
them. 

Voted — to  appoint  marshals  for  the  day  and  Lemuel  H.  Gould, 
John  K.  Cole,  Elbridge  S.  Bixby,  Augustine  S.  Peabody,  Thomas  K. 
Leach,  Thomas  L.  Lane,  Joel  Lake,  Thomas  Gould,  Rodney  D.  Perkins, 
William  H.  Balch,  Wm.  E.  Kimball  and  Samuel  Todd. 

Voted  to  adjourn.  JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

1850.  August  15.  The  Committee  met.  Wm.  N.  Cleaveland  and 
John  G.  Hood  presented  a  Programme  for  the  exercises,  which  with 
some  slight  amendments  was  adopted. 

Voted — that  John  G.  Hood  procure  or  cause  to  be  printed  in  suit- 
able form,  One  Thousand  Copies  of  the  Order  of  Exercises  for  distri- 
bution and  one  Hundred  slips  of  the  Order  of  Procession. 

Voted — that  the  parts  in  the  exercises  not  now  assigned,  be  as- 
signed to  the  Clergymen  expected  present. 

Voted — that  the  Anthem  be  sung  by  the  Choir,  that  the  Selections 
of  scriptures  be  read  by  Rev.  Mr.  Atkinson  of  the  Methodist,  that 
the  first  Hymn  be  read  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hood,  that  the  Prayer  be 
offered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  McLoud  of  the  Congregational  Society. 

Voted — that  the  Ode  written  for  the  occasion,  by  Miss  Hannah 
Flagg  Gould,  be  read  by  Benjamin  A.  Gould  Esq.  of  Boston,  her 
brother. 


126 


RECORDS  OF  THE   BI-CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEE,    1850. 


Voted — that  the  Hymn  after  the  Address  be  read  by  Rev.  Mr.  E. 
L.  Cleaveland. 

Voted — that  the  Benediction  be  given  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  L.  Gould. 

Voted — that  the  exercises  be  in  the  Grove  to  be  called  Centennial 
Hill  and  that  a  Speaking  stand  and  seats  be  there  erected. 

Voted— to  adjourn.    '  JNO.  G.  HOOD,  Sec. 

Aug.  24.     Committee  met — Mr  Wright  of  Boston  present. 

Voted — to  sign  the  contracts  for  the  Dinner. 

Voted — to  become  obligated  to  Mr.  Wright  for  five  Hundred  and 
fifty  Dinners. 

Voted — that  he  become  obligated  for  to  furnish  Seven  Hundred 
and  fifty  Dinners.  Voted — that  he  erect  his  Pavillion  and  set  his 
Tables  on  the  Common. 


BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION  DINNER,  AUG.  29,  1850 

The  subscribers  hereby  agree  to  take  the  number  of  tickets,  for 
the  dinner  on  that  occasion,  (at  one  dollar  each)  annexed  to  their 
names  respectively. 

John  G.  Hood  Esq.  will  furnish  subscribers  with  their  tickets  at 
any  time  from  June  1st  to  Aug.  10th  at  which  time  all  tickets  sub- 
scribed for  must  be  taken.  May  16th  1850 


Wm.  Munday 

15.00 

Samual  Clifford 

2.00 

W.  N.  Cleaveland  for 

Chas.  Gould 

3.00 

John  Cleaveland 

15.00 

Jacob  Foster 

2.00 

W.  N.  Cleaveland 

6.00 

Henry  Long 

4.00 

R.  A.  Merriam 

5.00 

Thos.  Moore 

2.00 

J.  W.  Batchelder 

5.00 

Eben  Caswell 

2.00 

J.  P.  Towne 

5.00 

John  Potter 

2.00 

Jno.  G.  Hood 

5.00 

Joseph  Wildes 

4.00 

C.  Herrick 

5.00 

Saml  C.  Todd 

2.00 

B.  P.  Adams 

5.00 

Benjm.  Kimball 

2.00 

Saml.  Adams 

2.00 

Allen  Gould,  Jur. 

2.00 

W.  E.  Kimball 

5.00 

Timothy  M.  Phillips 

2.00 

Thos.  Gould 

2.00 

Lucy  A.  Sanderson 

1.00 

John  Parkinson 

2.00 

W.  G.  Lake 

3.00 

Benja.  Perkins 

2.00 

Joseph  Towne,  Jr. 

2.00 

Edward  Hood 

3.00 

Joseph  Towne 

2.00 

F.  P.  Merriam 

2.00 

Joel  Lake 

3.00 

D.  Bradstreet 

2.00 

Israel  Gallup 

2.00 

S,  S.  McKenzie 

3.00 

Benjm.  C.  Orne 

3.00 

John  Wright 

10.00 

A.  P.  Averell 

3.00 

BI-CENTENNIAL   DINNER   SUBSCRIBERS. 


127 


William  Hubbard  2.00 

Thos*  K.  Leach  .  3.00 

Hannah  Perkins  2.00 

Sarah  M.  Towne  1.00 

W.  P.  Gallup  3.00 

John  A.  Merrill  2.00 

Isaiah  M.  Small  2.00 

William  P.  Perkins  2.00 

Amos  Perkins  2.00 

J.  F.  Bradstreet  2.00 

J.'Lovett  2.00 

S.  B.  Perkins  2.00 

Frederick  Stiles  2.00 

Thos.  Perley  1.00 

A.  H.  Gould  2.00 

Francis  Gould  2.00 

Thos.  Munday  5.00 

Ansel  Gould  5.00 

R.  Phillips,  Jr.  5.00 

J.  Hersey  Reed  2.00 

Nehemiah  Perkins,  Jr.  2.00 

E.  S.  Bixby  5.00 

J.  P.  Emerson  2.00 

D.  E.  Kneeland  1.00 

L.  B.  Emerson  1.00 

Rich.  Phillips  2.00 

C.  P.  French  .  2.00 
M.  B.  Perkins  1.00 
John  Perley  1.00 

D.  H.  Andrews  2.00 
A.  Browne  1.00 
John  Hood  3.00 
Eben.  H.  Lake  1.00 
Zaccheus  Gould  6.00 
Saml  Tole  1.00 
John  Phillips  2.00 
George  Roberts  3.00 
Samuel  Todd  3.00 
Benj.  B.  Towne  1.00 
Dudley  Perkins               ,  3.00 

E.  F.  Perkins  2.00 
Thos.  L.  Lane  3.00 
Neh»»  Perkins  2.00 


A.  McLoud  3.00 

Isaac  N.  Averill  2.00 

Daniel  Perkins  4.00 

E.  R.  Perkins  2.00 

E.  B.  Peabody  2.00 

Rodney  D.  Perkins  2.00 

Tho.  Peabody  2.00 

Cyrus  Peabody  2.00 

Joshua  Wildes  1.00 

A.  W.  Smith  1.00 

Willard  Smith  2.00 

Elizabeth  T.  Harris  1.00 

J.  W.  Rust  2.00 

A.  S.  Peabody  1.00 
Jacob  Symonds  1.00 
John  Gould,  Sr.  2.00 
Israel  D.  Elliot  2.00 
Dudley  Q.  Perkins  3.00 
Aaron  A.  Andrews  2.00 
J.  P.  Gould  2.00 
Erastus  Clarke  2.00 
W.  H.  Balch  4.00 
C.  B.  Bradstreet  3.00 
Henry  Towne  1.00 
Joel  R.  Peabody  5.00 
John  Peabody  1.00 
Elisha  A.  Hood  2.00 
John  Dwinell  2.00 

B.  W.  Crowninshield  -  5.00 
John  Gould  2.00 
Saml.  Beckford  2.00 
David  G.  Perkins  3.00 
Henry  West  1.00 
Asa  Bradstreet  2.00 
Will.  Bradstreet,  Jr.  2.00 
John  Bradstreet  2.00 
Moses  Petengall  2.00 
Saml.  Gardner  1.00 
Robert  Lake,  Jr.  2.00 
John  Lamson  5.00 
Robert  Lake  1.00 
Mary  Hood  2.00 


NEWSPAPER  ITEMS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

COPIED  FROM  SALEM  NEWSPAPERS 
BY  GEORGE  FRANCIS  DOW. 


(Continued  from  Volume  XXIV,  page  126.) 


Mr.  Nehemiah  Perkins,  of  this  town,  who  is  bordering  on  his  80th 
year,  took  the  cars  alone  and  went  to  Lawrence  to  visit  his  son,  A. 
C.  Perkins,  A.  B.,  who  is  the  Principal  of  the  High  School  in  that 
city,  and  intends  to  return  by  the  way  of  Salem,  on  a  visit  to  his  son, 
J.  W.  Perkins,  A.  B.,  who  is  the  Principal  of  the  High  School  there. 
What  makes  this  event  one  of  interest  is  that  Mr.  Perkins  has  never 
before  been  in  a  railroad  car,  though  having  lived  within  the  sound 
of  them  since  they  passed  through  the  town.  He  is  a  man  of  extra- 
ordinary vigor  and  activity,  and  carries  on  his  farm  unassisted,  ex- 
cepting by  one  man  during  the  summer  and  autumn  season.  He 
could  be  found  every  day  during  the  past  summer  doing  a  day's  work 
with  the  scythe  and  rake,  and  knows  but  little  of  fatigue  more  than 
most  men  in  the  prime  of  life.  In  reply  to  a  remark  by  the  writer 
of  this,  that  he  was  too  old  to  mow,  he  said  he  had  as  soon  go  through 
his  field  cutting  a  swarth  as  to  walk  without  it.  He  is  found  in  his 
seat  at  church  almost  every  Sabbath,  going  on  foot  a  distance  of  one 
and  one-half  mile.  He  has  a  daughter,  the  wife  of  Rev.  A.  Pike,  who 
is  settled  as  pastor  in  Sauk  Centre,  Minn.,  whom  he  may  visit  after 
his  return  from  the  present  journey  to  Lawrence  and  Salem,  if  he 
likes  travelling  in  the  cars. 

Salem  Gazette,  Jan.  17,  1873. 

The  sixtieth  birthday  of  Mr.  Ezra  Batchelder  was  celebrated  by 
a  surprise  party  of  his  kindred  and  friends,  on  Monday  evening, 
January  18th.  Some  eighty  persons  participated,  and  some  hours 
were  spent  in  very  pleasant  festivity. 

Salem  Gazette,  Jan.  31,  1873. 

Dr.  Morran  of  Boston,  has  during  the  past  week  delivered  a  course 
of  lectures  on  Scientific  and  moral  questions  to  a  large  and  interested 

(128) 


NEWSPAPER   ITEMS   RELATING   TO   TOPSFIELD.  129 

audience.  There  are  in  this  town  quite  a  number  of  persons  whose 
attentions  have  been  directed  to  the  subjects  treated  by  Dr.  Morran, 
and  have  attained  to  a  knowledge  of  those  sciences  which  qualifies 
them  to  understand  and  appreciate  them.  Not  to  particularize,  we 
will  venture  without  fear  of  giving  offence  to  say  that  Mr.  Samuel 
Todd  has  familiarized  himself  with  the  science  of  geology  to  a  degree 
seldom  found  in  persons  of  his  advantages  having  devoted  a  greater 
part  of  his  evenings  for  forty  years  to  the  pursuit  of  that  knowledge. 
His  business  has  been  that  of  a  farmer  and  stone  mason,  and  exca- 
vating the  earth  for  cellars  and  wells  has  afforded  him  an  opportun- 
ity of  acquainting  himself  with  the  different  strata  of  rocks  and  earth 
as  they  have  fallen  under  his  observation.  He  has  familiarized  him- 
self with  all  of  Hugh  Miller's  theories  in  geology,  as  well  as  of  many 
other  authors,  and  is  competent  to  speak  or  lecture  to  the  acceptance 
of  an  intelligent  and  learned  audience  in  this  branch  of  science.  Rev. 
Mr.  Fitts  for  more  than  a  year  has  had  classes  in  botany,  geology, 
and  natural  history,  which  he  has  instructed  once  a  week,  free  of 
cost,  and  has  stimulated  a  deep  interest  in  these  branches  of  scienti- 
fic subjects.  Salem  Gazette,  Feb,  7,  1873. 

Among  its  many  attractions,  Topsfield  is  fortunate  in  possessing 
considerable  theatrical  talent.  About  ten  years  ago  the  "Amateur 
Dramatic  Club"  was  organized,  which  ever  since,  in  aid  of  charity  or 
public  improvement,  has  relieved  the  monotony  of  the  country  winters 
by  the  presentation  of  some  annual  novelty.  The  club  gave  another 
of  its  choice  entertainments  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday  evenings 
of  last  week.  Wednesday  evening  was  fully  occupied  by  a  few 
choice  tableaux  and  the  exhibition  of  Mrs.  Jarley's  far-famed  wax 
works.  These  figures  were  so  artistically  arranged  and  draperied, 
that  it  was  hard  to  realize  them  to  be  other  than  the  genuine  wax 
they  purported  to  be;  while  they  were  so  clearly  and  humorously 
described  that  Dickens  himself  would  have  enjoyed  the  carrying  out 
of  his  fanciful  idea. 

On  Thursday  evening,  after  a  fine  representation  of  wax  statuary, 
the  farce  "Our  Jeminy,"  was  performed  before  a  large  and  apprecia- 
tive audience.  The  stage,  scenery,  and  curtain,  were  under  the 
management  of  Mr.  Floyd,  while  excellent  music  was  furnished  by 
the  Haverhill  band.  The  only  drawback  to  the  pleasure  of  the  even- 
ing was  the  condition  of  the  hall,  which  is  dark,  low-studded,  and 
poorly  ventilated.  It  behooves  the  good  people  of  Topsfield  to  be- 
stir themselves  and  furnish  better  accommodations  for  public  gather- 
ings, and  free  themselves  from  the  high  charges  the  managers  of  the 
present  hall  think  themselves  justified  in  making. 

Salem  Gazette,  Feb.  21,  1873. 


130  NEWSPAPER   ITEMS   RELATING   TO    TOPSF1ELD. 

Town  Finances. — The  present  town  debt  of  Topsfield  is  $20,7CO, 
which  is  $2500  less  than  last  year;  and  the  cash  balance  now  in  the 
hands  the  treasurer,  is  a  little  more  than  $2000.  1  he  ordinal y  ex- 
penses of  the  town,  the  past  year,  amounted  to  $15,524.78,  as  follow  s: 
Schools,  $1358.82;  repairs  on  highway,  bridges,  and  new  streets, 
$2456.53;  pathing  snow,  $297.19  ;  abatement  of  taxes,  $145.86  ;  bain 
and  repairs  on  almshouse  $2816.73;  notes  and  loan  paid,  $2500.00 ; 
overseer's  department,  $1324.13;  state  aid,  $812.00  ;  interest  paid, 
$1063.50 ;  town  officers,  $512.17;  state  tax,  $1120.00;  county  tax, 
$769.40 ;  miscellaneous  expenses,  $348.45. 

Salem  Gazette,  Feb.  28,  1873. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  held  Tuesday,  March  4,  the  following 
town  officers  were  chosen  : 

Moderator — Samuel  Todd  ;  Town  Clerk — Jacob  P.  Towne ;  Treas- 
urer— J.  Porter  Gould;  Selectmen — Dudley  Bradstreet,  A.  H.  Gould, 
S.  D.  Hood;  Overseers  of  the  Poor — D.  Bradstreet,  John  H.  Potter, 
M.  B.Perkins;  Assessors- — Andrew  Gould,  S.  D.  Hood,  J.  Balch  ; 
Constables— H.  W.  Lake,  James  Wilson,  J.  C.  P.  Floyd  ;  1  Road  Com- 
missioner 3  yrs — David  Clarke;  2  School  Committee  3  yrs — Dudley 
Bradstreet,  Jacob  A.  Towne;  Fish  Committee — S.  S.  McKenzie, 
William  Locke,  Samuel  Todd,  James  Wilson,  Samuel  Clarke ;  Fence 
Viewers — Samuel  Clarke,  James  Wilson,  Samuel  Todd  ;  Committee 
to  Build  Town  Hall — C.  Herrick,  J.  Bailey,  Ezra  Towne,  D.  Bradstreet 
J.  H.  Potter,  W.  E.  Kimball,  J.  W.  Batchelder. 

The  town  voted  to  build  a  hall  during  the  present  year,  the  ex- 
pense not  to  exceed  $13,000,  to  be  erected  on  the  Common  near  the 
Congregational  Church.  $12,000  voted  to  be  raised  for  the  current 
expenses  during  the  year.  It  is  hoped  that  a  clock  will  be  in  readi- 
ness by  certain  parties  when  the  hall  is  completed,  $300  already 
having  been  raised  for  that  purpose. 

Salem  Gazette,  March  7,  1873. 

LINEBROOK  PARISH,  IPSWICH. 

When  a  native  of  the  parish  is  asked  where  he  was  born,  it  is  with 
a  little  sense  of  mental  reservation  that  he  answers,  "in  Ipswich,"  for 
"down  to  Ipsidge,"  (and  why  not,  if  Greenwich  is  Grinidge?)  he  has 
always  heard  and  said,  just  as  he  in  common  with  the  townspeople  have 
said,  "down  to  Salem,"  or  with  an  odd  change  of  the  adverb,  "up  to 
Boston."  From  present  appearances  I  fancy  the  town  will  have  to 
grow  up  to  the  parish,  for  that  shows  not  the  least  sign  of  coming 
down  to  the  town.  At  any  rate  "it  stands  upon  the  order  of  its  go- 
ing," having  remained  almost  stationary  for  thirty  years  at  least. 
But  a  few  persons  may  be  left  in  the  county  who  never  heard  of 


NEWSPAPER   ITEMS   RELATING   TO   TOPSFIELD.  131 

Linebrook.  Its  other  name,  FlRETOWN,  conferred  in  former  times, 
as  they  say,  on  account  of  frequent  iires  in  the  woods  therein  con- 
tained, is  rejected  by  the  inhabitants;  but  it  is  quite  euphonious  and 
even  poetic,  compared  with  names  of  other  localities  in  Ipswich — 
names  not  recognized  on  maps  to  be  sure,  any  more  than  Firetown ; 
as  Flytown,  Hogtown,  Hog  lane,  Pudd 'n  street,  &c.  The  boys  dwell- 
ing on  the  south  side  of  the  stone  bridge  used,  I  remember,  to  be 
assailed  with  derisive  cries  of  "over  the  river  rickety  sticks"  by  "up 
town"  boys.  The  origin  of  this  classic  allusion,  like  that  of  Pudd'n 
street,  is  probably  to  be  found  embodied  in  some  pre-historic  myth, 
if  any  one  cares  to  investigate  the  subject.  Why  it  is  then  so  dis- 
graceful, after  all,  to  be  called  a  Firetowner?  for  fire  suggests  pleas^ 
ant  thoughts  in  winter,  and  since  nobody  ever  imagined  all  the  woods 
were  burnt  up,  why  its  forest  shades  are  a  beauty  and  a  rest  to  the 
eye  of  the  soul  in  summer.  But  I  have  not  told  where  it  is  yet.  It 
constitutes  the  western  part  of  the  town  of  Ipswich.  Take  the  old 
Boxford  road  and  drive  about  three  miles  from  Ipswich  depot,  and 
you  come  to  the  brook  whence  it  derives  its  name,  Linebrook.  In 
this  vicinity  are  the  famous  berry  pastures,  much  more  frequented 
in  former  years  than  now,  because,  sad  to  relate,  many  of  those  who 
came  were  not  careful  always  to  obey  the  golden  rule,  and  much 
damage  to  property  wearied  out  the  patience  of  those  who  had  will- 
ingly allowed  law-abiding  citizens  to  come  and  go  at  pleasure. 

About  three  miles  from  the  brook  is  the  church,  Orthodox  Congre- 
gational, with  a  strong  emphasis  on  the  Orthodox — no  laxity  of  doc- 
trine here.  Only  a  few  years  ago,  they  imported  an  organ  of  some 
sort,  in  place  of  the  clarionet  and  viol  that  had  led  the  singing  ever 
since  I  could  remember.  The  school  house  is  passed  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  before  you  reach  the  church,  remodelled  recently.  By  and 
by  we  sha'n't  have  anything  ancient  left. 

Quite  a  number  of  the  Linebrook  people  have  their  post  office  ad- 
dress at  Topsfield,  about  four  miles  distant  over  a  road  that  has  a 
great  deal  of  up  and  down  hill  work  about  it ;  but  travelling  on  it, 
I  have  seen  such  glorious  sunsets  as  might  have  been  imported  from 
Eden. 

The  people  being  farmers,  of  course  their  houses  are  not  placed 
very  near  together;  but  when  any  one  is  ill,  no  matter  how  far  off 
his  house  may  be,  the  sympathy  and  substantial  aid  rendered  and 
continued  through  weeks  and  months  it  may  be,  show  how  blessed 
a  thing  is  this  common  human  nature  of  ours,  blossoming  just  when 
and  where  needful  into  deeds  of  self-denying  kindness  that  strength- 
en, comfort  and  bless.  If  you  wish  to  know  what  Linebrook  is  fam- 
ous for,  besides   huckleberries,   I  reply  kind  hearted  and  hospitable 


132  NEWSPAPER   ITEMS   RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

people,  and  next,  good  singers;  fori  think  any  one  knowing  the 
local  history  of  the  place,  will  agree  that  there  has  been  a  larger 
proportion  of  such  than  often  falls  to  the  lot  of  many  a  more  pre- 
tentious locality.  This  result,  not  uncommon  I  fancy  in  "out  ol  the 
way"  places,  may  be  partly  due  to  a  lack  of  opportunity  for  devo- 
tion to  the  other  fine  arts ;  and  may  it  not  also  be  that  getting  closer 
to  Nature,  the  youths  and  maidens  catch  more  of  her  rhythmic  har- 
monies, like  the  birds?  It  seems  to  me  that  all  real  artists  in  music 
must  often  go  to  her  to  listen  and  take  again  the  key-note,  lost  in 
the  multiform  and  discordant  noises  of  the  town. 

Salem  Gazette,  March  14,  1873. 

The  amount  expended  for  schools  the  past  year,  was  $1829.25, 
which  was  slightly  in  excess  of  the  town  appropriation  and  inccme 
of  the  department.  The  number  of  children  between  five  and  fifteen 
on  May  1,  1872,  was  217;  and  203  attended  school  during  the  Spring 
term,  193  during  the  Fall  term,  and  211  during  the  Winter  term. 
The  School  Committee,  in  their  annual  report,  appear  to  find  some- 
thing to  contend  with  in  the  matter  of  school  management  on  ac- 
count of  the  prejudices  of  parents  against  teachers.  In  reference  to 
the  change  of  text  books,  often  complained  of,  they  say  that  certain 
changes  are  occasionally  necessary,  as,  for  instance,  in  geography, 
where  an  edition  twenty  years  old  of  necessity  loses  its  value.  The 
Committee  utter  a  truth  applicable  to  other  places  besides  Topsfield, 
when  they  say  the  schools  suffer  from  a  neglect  of  the  practice  of 
writing,  to  meet  which  want  an  evening  school  was  allowed  to  be 
kept  in  the  Centre  School  house  through  the  winter. 

Salem  Gazette,  April  11, 1873. 

FARM  FOR  SALE 

The  Treadwell  Farm,  beautifully  situated  upon  the  Ipswich  river 
in  Topsfield,  Essex  County,  within  five  minutes'  walk  of  railroad, 
churches,  schools  and  post  office ;  surrounded  by  highly  cultivated 
farms  and  picturesque  scenery.  This  farm  was  beautified  by  the 
former  owner  by  the  culture  of  a  large  number  of  forest  and  orna- 
mental trees,  together  with  fruit  trees  of  various  kinds,  and  by  him 
bequeathed  to  the  Essex  Agricultural  Society,  whose  trustees  have 
voted  to  offer  it  for  sale.  The  farm  contains  about  155  acres  of 
land,  including  about  55  acres  of  fine,  level  tillage  land  of  easy  cul- 
tivation, and  about  100  acres  of  the  best  pasturage  in  the  county ; 
the  whole  is  fenced  by  substantial  stone  wall. — Upon  the  farm  are 
natural  cranberry  meadows,  a  large  quantity  of  meadow  muck  and 
facilities  with  small  expense  for  fish  ponds,  partially  shaded  by  beau- 
tiful groves  of  well  grown  ornamental  trees.     The  farm  has   been 


NEWSPAPER   ITEMS   RELATING  TO   TOPSFIELD.  133 

put  in  a  high  state  of  tilth  by  the  application  of  more  than  fifty  cords 
of  first  quality  of  manure  per  year  for  the  last  seven  years.  The 
buildings  consist  of  a  dwelling  house,  shed,  carriage  and  store  house 
corn  barn,  piggery  and  sheep  barn,  all  in  fair  condition,  and  also  a 
new  barn,  with  a  manure  cellar,  which  may  well  be  called  a  model 
for  convenience,  style  and  construction.  This  affords  a  rare  oppor- 
tunity to  the  practical  farmer,  the  merchant  or  professional  man 
seeking  a  healthy,  quiet  and  beautiful  country  residence  at  a  moder- 
ate price.  For  further  particulars,  inquire  of  A.  H.  GOULD,  Tops- 
field,  or  of  BENJ.  P.  WARE,  Marblehead :  Dr.  GEO.  B.  LORING, 
Salem ;  CHAS.  P.  PRESTON,  Danvers. 

Salem  Gazette,  April  11,  1873. 

A  SHOE  MANUFACTORY  FOR  SALE  IN  TOPSFIELD 

This  Manufactory  is  five  minutes'  walk  from  the  B.  &  M.  R.  R., 
School,  Post-office  and  Meeting-house,  with  facilities  for  manufactur- 
ing shoes  unsurpassed,  as  workmen  can  come  from  adjoining  towns 
by  cars.  This  manufactory  is  new,  large,  and  arranged  according 
to  the  most  modern  and  convenient  plans.  It  is  two  stories  in  height. 
The  second  story  has  all  the  conveniences  for  fitting  uppers,  and 
capable  of  accommodating  twenty-five  machines.  The  lower  rooms 
have  all  the  accomodations  for  cutting  and  delivering  stock.  There 
is  a  spacious  cellar  under  it  capable  for  storing  a  large  amount  of 
leather.  The  whole  arrangements  are  so  new  and  complete  that  no 
alterations  need  be  made  for  immediate  commencement  of  business. 

Also  a  large  and  commodious  Dwelling  House,  newly  built  of  the 
best  of  materials,  containing  thirteen  finished  rooms,  all  painted  and 
in  thorough  condition  outside  and  in,  with  blinds. 

Also  a  commodious  Barn,  fitted  for  storage  of  goods,  carriages, 
and  horses. 

All  other  necessary  outbuildings  attached  to  the  premises. 

Also  one-third  acre  of  land,  with  fruit  trees  and  ornamental  shrub- 
bery. Both  the  house  and  manufactory  are  supplied  with  never- 
failing  wells  of  water.  The  manufactory  has  sufficient  height  of 
stud  to  be  put  into  a  dwelling  house.  Should  these  premises  not  be 
sold  before  Monday,  the  28th  inst.,  they  will  then  be  sold  at  public 
auction  on  that  day,  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.  If  desired,  the  manufac- 
tory will  be  sold  at  auction  separate  from  the  other  property,  to  be 
moved  off. 

Cars  run  from  Boston,  Lynn,  Haverhill,  and  Newburyport,  to  ac- 
commodate any  who  may  wish  to  attend  from  those  cities,  and  return 
to  their  homes  the  same  afternoon. 

References — Mr.  Merriam,  station  agent ;  B.  P.  Adams,  P.  M. ; 
Lorenzo  P.  Towne.  Salem  Gazette,  April  11,  1873. 


134  NEWSPAPER   ITEMS   RELATING   TO   TOPSFIELD. 

A  blue  heron,  which  is  far  from  a  common  bird,  was  brought  to 
the  Gazette  office  on  Saturday  last,  by  Floyd's  express,  for  inspection. 
It  was  a  noble  creature,  six  feet  across  the  wings,  and  five  feet  from 
tip  of  the  bill  to  the  feet.  It  was  caught  in  a  trap  set  tor  mink,  by 
Everett  Lake. 

Salem  Gazette,  April  25,  1873. 

As  Decoration  Day  is  near  at  hand  it  is  desired  by  quite  a  number  of 
the  friends  Of  the  deceased  soldiers  who  sacrificed  their  lives  foi  the 
cause  of  freedom  that  a  greater  effort  be  made  this  year  than  formerly 
in  visiting  the  two  cemeteries  where  are  laid  our  soldier  dead.  We 
have  no  lodge  here  of  the  Grand  Army,  but  have  in  our  midst  quite 
a  number  who  are  connected  with  other  lodges  out  of  town,  and  it 
is  expected  that  they  cannot  be  at  home  on  that  day.  If  possible  it 
would  be  pleasant  to  have  them  do  something  towards  getting  those 
interested  together  on  that  day  to  have  an  address  frcm  some  cne, 
perhaps  music.  If  they  who  desire  a  gathering  of  this  kind  would 
make  an  effort  in  that  direction  there  would  be  a  large  number  who 
would  be  pleased  to  assist,  in  making  the  day  profitable  to  us,  and 
all  would  be  pleased  to  strew  flowers  over  our  fallen  heroes.  Let 
the  teachers  of  the  different  schools  mention  it  to  the  children,  invit- 
ing them  to  assist  and  the  number  will  be  quite  large  and  it  will  be 
pleasant  to  all  assembled  to  keep  fresh  in  our  minds  the  loved  and 
lost  by  war. 

Salem  Gazette,  May  16,  1873. 

In  Topsfield  in  the  afternoon,  the  teachers  of  all  the  schools,  with 
their  scholars  selected  a  large  array  of  flowers  and  gathered  in  Union 
Hall  to  unite  with  others  in  observing  the  day.  It  was  thought  a 
large  number  would  not  be  present,  but  having  learned  that  a  band 
of  music  from  Boxford  would  be  present  nearly  the  whole  town  made 
their  appearance  in  the  small  hall,  and  all  were  greatly  pleased  with 
the  efforts  of  the  Band.  Mr.  Floyd  gave  direction  and  shape  to  the 
procession.  First  speaker  was  Rev.  J.  A.  Fitz,  pastor  of  the  Congre- 
gational church,  whose  remarks  were  interesting  to  all.  The  next 
was  a  short  and  very  good  poem  from  our  longest  citizen,  C.  H. 
Holmes,  Esq.  Remarks  by  Rev.  S.  A.  Fuller,  pastor  M.  E.  Church — 
brief  and  appropriate,  Prayer.  The  Post  of  the  Grand  Army  from 
Georgetown  was  present,  making  a  beautiful  appearance.  Their 
presence  was  owing  to  the  fact  that  seven  of  our  soldiers  are  connect- 
ed with  that  post— E.  T.  Phillips,  A.  J.  Phillips,  E.  Fuller,  C.  H.  Clarke, 
O.  Gould,  H.  W.  Potter,  D.  E.  Hurd.  It  is  to  their  praise  and  efforts 
that  the  exercises  were  so  successful.  Great  credit  is  due  to  our 
Georgetown  comrades  for  the  number  present,  having  so  many  cem- 


NEWSPAPER    ITEMS   RELATING   TO   TOPSI-IELD.  135 

eteries  to  visit,  and  at  great  distances  from  each  other.  In  addition 
to  the  above,  a  delegation  from  Byfield  favored  us  with  their  presence 
in  uniform.  Everything  was  a  success,  and  great  interest  was  shown 
in  honoring  those  who  died  in  their  country's  service — some  buried 
here,  and  others  there — graves  unknown — all  were  remembered. 
May  we  each  year  not  forget  those  who  sacrificed  their  lives  to  per- 
petuate the  blessings  we  enjoy. 

Salem  Gazette,  May  30,  1873. 

The  Cleaveland  House  and  a  Picnic  There. — Many  of  those  who  have 
visited  Topsfield  remember  the  old  Cleaveland  house.  Its  quaint  as- 
pect, with  its  long  piazzas,  so  broad  and  low,  with  the  woodbine  and 
honey-suckle  twining  around  their  trellises;  its  heavy  porches,  its 
pleasant  grounds,  with  the  lawn  and  fountain  in  front ;  the  little  grove 
and  brook,  with  its  rustic  bridge,  at  the  foot  of  the  garden;  the 
lovely  view  from  the  tent  on  the  hill, — to  every  one  these  are  familiar. 
The  house  itself  is  very  ancient;  some  parts  of  it  being  over  two 
hundred  and  fifty  years  old.  About  twenty-five  years  ago,  Mr.  John 
Cleaveland,  of  New  York,  returned  to  his  native  town  to  make  his 
home  for  the  summer  months  at  the  old  homestead ;  and  from  a  plain 
unpretending  house,  it  became,  by  his  good  taste  and  labor,  one  of 
the  most  picturesque  to  be  found.  It  has  been  until  within  a  few 
years  kept  in  constant  repair.  Bravely  has  the  old  house  stood  the 
wear  of  time,  and  it  might  to  a  superficial  observer  seem  strong 
enough  for  many  years;  but  an  old  house,  like  an  old  garment,  must 
finally  be  cast  aside,  however  reluctantly.  There  is  little  economy 
or  pleasure  in  constantly  repairing,  and  never  feeling  it  will  pay. 
Mr.  Stanwood,  the  present  owner,  has  concluded  to  raze  the  old  house, 
to  make  room  for  a  new  one,  to  be  built  on  the  same  spot. 

Wednesday,  the  23d,  the  Congregational  Sabbath  School,  of  Mai- 
den, of  which  Mr.  S.  was  librarian,  by  his  kind  invitation,  came  out 
to  spend  the  day  picnic  fashion.  When  the  train  from  Boston  arrived, 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  made  their  appearance.  "My  carriage 
will  meet  you  at  the  depot,  and  those  who  wish  can  ride,"  said  Mr. 
S.  to  them.  The  carriage  was  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  large  hay  wagon, 
trimmed  with  green  and  the  American  flag.  When  the  company  ar- 
rived on  the  grounds,  they  found  plenty  of  amusements,  consisting 
of  croquet,  swinging,  arbors,  etc.  The  day  was  fine,  and  every  one 
seemed  in  like  spirits.  Seats  were  provided  both  indoors  and  around 
the  grounds  in  profusion.  In  the  large  cool  rooms  the  tables  were 
set  for  refreshments.  As  Mr.  S.  still  occupies  the  house  he  previous- 
ly purchased,  they  had  the  whole  of  the  old  house  to  range  in.  Merry 
shouts  of  laughter  and  glad  voices  made  music  in  the  air.  As  the 
afternoon  drew  to  a  close,  they  all  gathered  on  the  lawn  in  front  to 


136  NEWSPAPER  ITEMS  RELATING   TO  TOPSFIELD. 

sing  their  farewell  songs,  and  to  thank  the  hospitable  owner  for  the 
days  enjoyment,  voting  it  the  best  picnic.  And  then  they  all  re- 
turned, leaving  the  old  house  again  empty  and  desolate,  as  many  a 
time  it  had  been  left  before.  We  thought,  as  we  stood  there  alone,  of 
all  those  other  voices,  of  the  gladsome  steps  and  merry  laughs  of  those 
who  had  loved  the  place,  silent  forever.  To-day  thy  walls  rang  with 
the  songs  of  mirth  ;  to-morrow  only  the  ring  of  the  axe,  the  sound 
of  thy  doom.  Old  house,  good-bye ;  pleasant  are  our  memories  of 
thee. 

Salem  Gazette,  July  25,  1873. 

The  Maiden  boys  had  a  game  of  base  ball  with  the  Topsfield  Mo- 
docs,  on  the  common.  The  game  was  in  favor  of  the  Modocs,  16  to 
6.  All  had  a  good  time,  and  it  is  hoped  that  every  one  was  favor- 
ably impressed  with  the  visit  here,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  it  will 
not  be  the  last  time  of  their  coming.  While  waiting  for  the  train, 
some  fine  music  was  listened  to.  Modoc. 

Salem  Gazette,  July  25,  1873. 

GEORGETOWN 

Sudden  death  of  a  respected  citizen. — Mr.  Elisha  A.  Hood,  well  and 
favorably  known  to  most  of  the  people  of  this  community,  as  a  milk 
and  produce  dealer,  died  very  suddenly  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Israel 
Herrick,  in  Boxford,  on  Wednesday  evening  the  30th.  Mr.  Hood 
had  visited  Boxford  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  a  daughter,  and  was 
returning  apparently  in  his  usual  health,  about  nine  o'clock  the  pre- 
vious evening  and  had  passed  a  small  party  of  townmen,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Henry  C.  Bixby,  and  B.  L.  R.  Perkins,  exchanging  pleas- 
ant salutations.  When  about  twenty  rods  in  advance,  Mr.  H.  was 
heard  to  utter  a  cry ;  the  two  gentlemen  rushed  to  his  assistance, 
and  found  him  leaning  over  the  dasher  of  his  wagon,  in  a  rigid  and 
partially  unconscious  state.  Restoratives  were  applied,  which  seemed 
to  revive  him  for  a  moment,  after  which  he  was  taken  to  the  house 
of  Mr.  Herrick  where  he  died  in  a  few  hours.  Dr.  Root  of  George- 
town was  called  who  pronounced  the  disease  a  form  of  apoplexy. 
The  remains  never  returned  to  Georgetown,  but  were  taken  to  Tops- 
field,  his  native  place,  the  day  following,  for  interment,  services  be- 
ing held  in  the  Congregational  church. 

Salem  Gazette,  August  1,  1873. 

On  Saturday  evening,  Aug.  9,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  A.  W.  Webster, 
who  resides  in  this  town,  and  is  a  wholesale  confectioner  in  Boston, 
came  very  near  finding  a  watery  grave,  some  half  a  mile  east  of  the 
turnpike   bridge,  in  the  Ipswich  river.     She  was  rescued  about  8 


NEWSPAPER   ITEMS   RELATING   TO   TOPSFIELD.  137 

o'clock  in  the  evening,  by  W.  P.  Walsh,  F.  Pierce,  and  O.  B.  Pool. 
They  have  the  thanks  of  the  entire  community  for  their  prompt  ef- 
forts in  saving  her  life,  which  in  a  few  moments  more  must  have 
ended,  for  when  discovered  she  was  unconscious.  The  cause  of  the 
accident  it  is  supposed  was  the  upsetting  or  turning  of  the  boat. 
Miss  Webster  is  about  sixteen  years  of  age. 

During  the  camp  meeting  at  Hamilton  beginning  Aug.  19,  Messrs. 
C.  J.  P.  Floyd  and  J.  W.  Beal  are  going  to  run  an  express  leaving 
Topsfield  at  8  and  12.30,  and  the  Grove  on  the  return  at  5  and  9  in 
the  afternoon. 

Salem  Gazette,  August  8,  1873. 

A  match  game  of  ball  was  played  on  Saturday,  Aug.  30,  between 
the  Modocs  of  this  town  and  the  Grants  of  Essex.  A  victory  for 
the  Topsfield  boys  was  obtained,  by  the  following  score: — Modocs 
23,  Grants  8.  Charles  H.  Merrill,  of  Salem,  officiated  as  umpire,  very 
acceptably.  Some  very  fine  individual  playing  was  noticed  on  both 
sides.  For  the  Modocs  Messrs.  McGuire,  Vicory  and  Smith  did  good 
service.  ,  While  Lakeman  and  Story  elicited  applause  for  the  Grants. 

Salem  Gazette,  August  29,  1873. 

The  storm  this  afternoon,  (Monday,  Sept.  1,)  was  one  of  the  most 
severe  and  terrific  of  the  season.  The  cloud,  which  came  up  about 
half  past  four,  covered  the  whole  heavens  with  blackness.  The 
lightning  flashed  in  all  directions,  and  peal  after  peal  followed  in 
rapid  succession.  A  valuable  horse,  belonging  to  Mr.  William  A. 
Porter,  of  Danversport,  was  tied  to  a  tree  in  the  yard  of  Mr.  B.  Jacobs, 
where  Mr.  Porter's  men  were  working  on  his  house,  and  seeing  the 
cloud  coming  up  went  for  the  team,  and  just  before  reaching  it  the 
lightning  struck  the  tree  and  killed  the  horse,  while  the  men  escaped 
unhurt. 

The  frequent  copious  rains  which  we  have  had  of  late  have  put  a 
new  face  on  vegetation.  The  fall  feed  is  most  excellent,  and  crops 
of  hay  and  grain  will  be  above  an  average.  Our  farmers  have  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  more  than  two  hundred  tons  of  their  river  meadow 
hay  this  year,  which,  on  account  of  the  extreme  wet  of  last  year, 
they  failed  to  secure.  This  is  quite  an  item  in  the  hay  crop,  as  the 
hay  on  the  river  meadows  is  generally  of  good  quality  for  fodder. 
The  apple  crop  will  be  almost  a  failure,  while  pears  are  plenty. 

In  no  previous  year  have  there  been  so  many  strangers  In  this 
town  as  in  this,  who  have  taken  board  during  the  summer,  and  who 
have  given  life  and  gaiety  in  our  streets  with  their  pretty  turnouts. 
The   physicians  regard  this  as  a   very  healthy   place  for  invalids — 


138  NEWSPAPER   ITEMS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

sufficiently  inland  to  avoid  the  immediate  sea  breezes,  and  not  so  far 
as  to  lose  the  cooling  breezes  from  the  eastwardly  winds.  A  single 
instance  will  illustrate  the  proof  of  this.  A  lady,  the  wife  of  one  of 
the  Essex  street,  Salem,  merchants,  who  had  never  weighed  a  hun- 
dred pounds,  went  into  Mr.  Adams's  store,  a  few  days  since,  and 
tipped  the  beam  of  his  scales  easily  at  one  hundred  and  seven. 

The  Smiths,  of  Utah,  have  just  caused  a  very  neat  free-stone  mon- 
ument to  be  put  up  in  our  old  burying  ground,  to  the  memory  of 
their  ancestors.  Not  that  the  name  of  Smith  will  be  in  danger  of 
becoming  extinct,  but  that  through  this  particular  branch,  Jo,  the 
Mormon  prophet,  is  a  lineal  descendant. 

Salem  Gazette,  Sept.  5,  1873. 

VALUABLE  FARM  IN  TOPSFIELD  AT  AUCTION. 

That  valuable  Farm  situated  in  Topsfleld,  and  formerly  known  as 
the  Batchelder  Farm,  more  recently  known  as  the  Brookdale  Farm, 
and  now  occupied  by  James  P.  Chandler.  Esq. 

Said  Farm  contains  about  100  acres,  suitably  divided  into  tillage, 
pasture  and  woodland,  with  a  good  variety  of  choice  fruit  trees  in 
full  bearing  condition. 

These  buildings  are  in  good  order,  and  consist  of  a  two  and  a  half 
story  dwelling  house,  handsomely  painted  and  blinded,  containing 
10  rooms  besides  milk  room  and  pantry,  and  is  very  convenient. 
There  is  also  a  large  barn  on  the  premises,  measuring  40x80  feet, 
with  a  convenient  carriage  house.  Also,  a  workshop,  tool  house 
and  hennery,  all  conveniently  arranged. 

The  farm  is  most  beautifully  located  on  the  Ipswich  road  and  is 
bounded  on  one  side  by  the  Boxford  road,  and  on  the  other  by  a  run- 
ning brook,  and  it  being  only  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from 
the  railroad  depot,  where  four  trains  pass  daily,  has  many  attrac- 
tions for  any  gentleman  doing  business  in  Boston  or  Salem,  and  de- 
siring a  residence  near  the  railroad;  or  the  situation  is  very  desir- 
able for  a  practical  farmer. 

On  the  woodland  there  are  about  three  hundred  cords  of  Oak  and 
Walnut  of  some  thirty-five  years  growth,  in  first  rate  condition. 

Terms  easy,  as  a  large  portion  of  the  purchase  money  can  remain 
on  mortgage  if  desired. 

Also  immediately  after  the  sale  of  the  Farm,  will  be  sold  a  miscel- 
laneous lot  of  Farming  Tools,  Furniture,  &c.  Also  one  good  cow, 
one  ox-wagon,  one  ox-cart,  and  a  variety  of  other  articles  too  num- 
erous to  mention. 

Salem  Gazette,  Sept.  5,  1873. 


NEWSPAPER    ITEMS   RELATING   TO   TOPSFIELD. 


139 


The  following  is  a 
dollars  and  upwards  :- 

B.  P.  Adams, 
Cyrus  Averill, 
John  Bailey, 
Humphrey  Balch, 
Est.  Abraham  Balch, 
Ezra  Batchelder, 
D.  Bradstreet, 
Mrs.  C.  B.  Bradstreet, 
Benjamin  Conant, 
Isaac  P.  Clapp, 
David  Clarke, 
James  P.  Chandler, 
Est.  John  Dwinell, 
Wm.  P.  Gallup, 
Andrew  Gould, 
Est.  J.  P.  Gould, 
A.  H.  Gould, 

C.  Herrick  &  Co., 
Charles  H.  Holmes, 
Wm.  H.  Hewes, 
Benjamin  Jacobs, 
Wm.  E.  Kimball, 
Wm.  B.  Kimball, 
Jacob  Kinsman, 
Est.  J.  B.  Lamson, 
Anna  Pingree, 
Benjamin  Pike, 
Israel  Rea, 
Jos.  E.  Stanwood, 
Willard  Smith, 
Frederick  Stiles, 
Est.  Mary  Taylor, 
J.  P.  Towne  &  E.  Perk 
Eben  W.  Towne, 
Benjamin  B.  Towne, 
Jacob  A.  Towne, 

N.  W.  Hazen  &  wife 
Sam'l  G.  Rea,  trus., 


list  of  the 

resident  tax-payers  who 

pay   fifty 

$142.69 

Robert  Lake, 

53.30 

51.25 

William  Locke, 

106.88 

315.60 

Est.  Henry  Long, 

57.47 

130.23 

Rev.  A.  McLoud, 

50.26 

111.63 

Est.  R.  A.  Merriam, 

73.73 

173.07 

James  Manning, 

68.93 

103.91 

Est.  T.  P.  Munday, 

79.80 

55.65 

Isaac  A.  Morgan, 

109.54 

83.15 

A.  S.  Peabody, 

88.90 

55.90 

Ephraim  P.  Peabody 

90.82 

113.56 

Est.  Joel  R.  Peabody, 

68.07 

72.37 

Mrs.  C.  K.  Perkins, 

53.01 

92.92 

Nehemiah  Perkins, 

58.73 

69.92 

Moses  B.  Perkins, 

141.09 

117.65 

Dudley  Perkins 

142.23 

69.47 

D.  Q.  Perkins, 

72.77 

198.23 

Est.  David  Perkins, 

82.23 

693.12 

Mary  S.  Perkins, 

75.79 

123.56 

Est.  Daniel  Perkins, 

92.21 

106.88 

Richard  Phillips, 

79.04 

60.81 

Thomas  W.  Pierce, 

1038.11 

126.03 

Est.  Asa  Pingree, 

90.72 

62.80 

Richard  Price 

93.20 

50.96 

Price  &  Shreve, 

139.46 

173.98 

Benjamin  Poole, 

127.36 

408.46 

J.  Waldo  Towne, 

104.35 

55.12 

J.  P.  Towne, 

140.09 

66.94 

David  Towne, 

121.18 

224.30 

Daniel  Towne, 

76.25 

98.10 

Lorenzo  P.  Towne, 

70.59 

61.66 

Richard  Ward, 

60.23 

72.20 

Francis  Welch, 

57.31 

ins,    51.30 

Susan  Wildes, 

62.70 

70.21 

Moses  Wildes, 

693.22 

213.28 

Albert  Webster, 

82.68 

69.86 

Israel  Wildes, 

73.95 

NON-RESIDENTS 

113.96     Mark  Haskell,  trus.,  53.20 

205.29 

Salem  Gazette,  Sept.  12,  1873. 


140  NEWSPAPER   ITEMS  RELATING  TO  TOPSFIELD. 

I  propose  in  this  paper  to  mention  some  of  the  improvements 
which  have  been  made  here  this  season ;  but  before  proceeding  de- 
sire to  make  a  few  corrections  in  my  last,  as  1  omitted  to  say  that 
we  have  a  most  excellent  barber  in  Mr.  Chas.  Field,  and  that  Misses 
Lucy  Foster  and  Elizabeth  Phillips  were  engaged  in  dress  making. 

Now  for  the  improvements,  the  most  notable  of  which  is  thai  made 
by  Mr.  Benj.  Jacobs  who  has  had  his  new  house  enlarged  by  an  ad- 
dition nearly  as  large  as  the  original,  and  by  a  French  in  place  of  a 
pitch  roof.  Mr.  J.  now  has  the  finest  residence  and  the  best  location 
in  the  village;  may  he  live  long  to  enjoy  it. 

Mr.  Stanwood,  who  last  spring  purchased  of  Mr.  Huse,  the  old 
Dr.  Cleaveland  estate,  and  also  the  estate  of  the  late  Mary  Taylor, 
has  commenced  operations  in  the  improvement  of  the  Cleaveland 
place  by  removing  the  old  house  to  a  lot  on  one  of  our  new  streets, 
and  digging  and  laying  a  foundation  for  a  new  house  near  the  site 
of  the  old  one.  He  has  made  several  minor  improvement,  and  pro- 
poses to  fit  up  the  old  house  either  to  sell  or  to  let.  Mr.  Huse  has 
bought  Mr.  Jacob  Foster's  fine  residence  on  Main  street,  but  as  there 
is  hardly  a  chance  to  improve  upon,  we  do  not  expect  any.  We  un- 
derstand that  Mr.  F.  contemplates  removing  from  town,  and  that  is 
the  reason  why  we  did  not  mention  him  as  one  of  our  business  men  ; 
but  he  still  remains  with  us  and  is  busy  at  his  trade,  (carpenter), 
keeping  several  hands  constantly  employed.  We  hope  he  may  yet 
be  induced  to  remain  with  us,  for  we  can  ill  afford  to  lose  him.  Mr. 
John  Potter  has  built  a  nice  mansard  roof  cottage,  en  the  Boxford 
road,  for  Mr.  John  Fiske,  and  a  fine  little  cottage  for  Mr.  B.  F.  De- 
land,  on  Todd  street,  and  is  now  engaged  with  a  large  force  of  men 
upon  our  town  house,  the  foundation  being  all  ready  for  the  frame. 
Mr.  John  Conrood  has  moved  his  house  from  Ipswich  (Linebrook 
Parish)  to  a  lot  on  Todd  street.  This  is  one  of  our  new  streets ;  it 
was  the  first  one  laid  out,  the  first  built,  and  the  first  built  upon. 
These  two  houses  together  with  Mr.  E.  Moris's  built  two  years  ago, 
Mr.  A.  Welch's  built  last  year,  Mr.  Jacobs's  built  last  year  and  rebuilt 
this  season,  with  the  improvements  of  new  fences,  paint,  &c,  on  the 
Dr.  Merriam  estate,  give  this  part  of  our  village  a  decidedly  fresh 
and  growing  appearance. 

Salem  Gazette,  Sept.  26,  1873. 

(To  be  continued.) 


VITAL  STATISTICS  OF  TOPSFIELD,  MASS. 

FOR  THE  YEAR   1920. 


.    1920. 
Jan.    27. 

Mar. 

24. 

Apr. 

23. 

June 
June 

17. 
29. 

July 

6. 

July 

9. 

July 

17. 

July 

22. 

Aug. 

7. 

Aug. 

7. 

Sept. 
Sept. 

14. 
16. 

Oct. 

2. 

Oct. 

27. 

Nov. 

4. 

Nov. 

20. 

BIRTHS. 


Marjorie  Helen  Miner,  dau.  of  Forrest  L.  and  Dorothy  M.    (Domey) 

Miner.     (Born  in  Salem  Hospital.) 
Burnham,  son  of  Wayland  and  Florence  (Robertson)  Burnham. 

(Born  in  Salem  Hospital.) 
Dana  Frederick  Jordan,  son  of  Harold  Frederick  and  Marion  Joseph- 
ine (Killam)  Jordan. 
Charley  De  Luiso,  son  of  John  and  Camline  (Dijianna)  De  Luiso. 
Ruth  Marion  Tronerud,  dau.  of  Conrad  S.  and  Viola  S.   (Durkee) 

Tronerud.     (Born  in  Salem  Hospital.) 
Emerson  Ray  Young,  son  of  Clarence  R.  and  Ruth  I.  (Miner)  Young. 

(Born  in  Salem  Hospital.) 
Ann  Hartley  Baxter,  dau.  of  Clarence  Pennell  and  Mary  Lyons  (Hart- 
ley) Baxter.     (Born  in  San  Juan,  Porto  Rico.) 
James  Vincent  MacDonald,  Jr.,  son  of  James  Vincent  and  Stella  May 

(McKeay)  MacDonald. 
Edith  Harriet  Montgomery,  dau.  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Reilly  (Mitchell) 

Montgomery. 
Mario  Paglia  Roberto,  son  of  Alphonse  and  Grazia  Maria   (Paglia) 

Roberto. 
Ilda  Paglia  Roberto,  dau.  of  Alphonse  and  Grazia  Maria   (Paglia) 

Roberto. 
Paolo  Cotoia,  son  of  Carmino  and  Saveria  (Mosca)  Cotoia. 
Alice  Mary  Iniller,  dau.  of  Benjamin  A.  and  Alice  L.  (Hanson)  Fuller. 

(Born  in  Salem  Hospital.) 
Mary  Frances  Sawyer,  dau.  of  John  Colby  and  Gertrude  F.  (Butterfield) 

Sawyer.     (Born  in  Salem  Hospital.) 
Joseph  Randall  Maynard,  son  of  Charles  A.  and  Helen  G.  (Flanders) 

Maynard. 
Eunice  Therese  Lord,  dau.  of  George  A.  and  Emma  A.  (Burbank)  Lord. 

(Born  in  Salem  Hospital.) 
Prudence  Holbrook  Wellman,  dau.  of  Sargent   Holbrook   and   Mai  >' 

Conover  (Lines)  Wellman.     (Born  in  Salem  Hospital.) 

(141) 


142  VITAL  STATISTICS  FOR    1920. 

MARRIAGES. 
1918. 

May  20.     George  L.  Walker  (Salem),  son  of  Hugh  G.  and  Isabella  T.  (Rankin) 
Walker. 
Mildred    R.  Bradstreet    (Salem),   dau.  of  Horace  I).    and  Mabclle  W. 
(Warner)  Bradstreet.     (Married  in  Topsfield.) 

1920. 
Jan.    20.     Howard  Elmore  Towle  (Lynn),  son  of  Whilie  and  Alice  G.  (Hill)  Tovvle. 
Mabel  Prudence  Watson  (Topsfield),   dau.  of  Fred  E.  and  Hattie   E. 
(Fuller)  Watson.     (Married  in  Lynn.) 

Feb.      1.    James  Bevlacqua  (Haverhill),  son  of  John  and  Clara  (Gardella)  Bev- 
lacqua. 
Florence  (Chase)  Russell    (Georgetown),   dau.  of  Frank   and   Emma 
(Perley)  Chase.     (Married  in  Topsfield.) 

Mar.  25.    Osgood  Samuel  Richards  (Boston),  son  of  Osgood  Benjamin  and  Effie 
(Dykeman)  Richards. 
Ruth  Florence  Ford  (Topsfield),  dau.  of  Howard  and  Isabel  (Andrews) 
Ford.     (Married  in  Topsfield.) 

Apr.     4.    Clarence  Henry  Kneeland    (Topsfield),  son  of  Thomas  Jackson  and 
Rose  Marcena  (Gilman)  Kneeland. 
Maude  Carrie  (Guptill)  Tucker  (Maiden),  dau.  of  Frank  Stillman  and 
Hila  Maria  (Pinkham)  Guptill.     (Married  in  Topsfield.) 

June     1.    George  Francis  Dow    (Topsfield),  son  of  George  Prince  and  Ada  B. 
(Tappan)  Dow. 
Alice  Goldsmith  Waters  (Salem),   dau.  of  Andrew  Shales  and  Louise 
Caroline  (Goldsmith)  Waters.     (Married  in  Salem.) 

June   17.    Edward  Arnstein  (Boston),  son  of  Adolph  and  Gizella   (Weismeyer) 
Arnstein. 
Grace  Lillian  Gould  (Boston),  dau.  of  Melvin  W.  and  Mary  E.  (Smith) 
Gould.     (Married  in  Topsfield.) 

June  18.    Henry  Coe  Gardner   (New  London,  Conn.),  son  of  Stephen  Ayrault 
and  Mary  Clark  (Sherman)  Gardner. 
Lucile  Withey  (New  London,  Conn.),  dau.  of  William  Ezra  and  Kate 
Louise  (Robinson)  Withey.     (Married  in  Topsfield.) 

Aug.   22.    Ralph  Harrison  Fuller    (Topsfield),   son  of  Joseph   and  Mary  Louisa 
(Peabody)  Fuller. 
Bertha  Forrest  George  (Georgetown),   dau.  of  Arthur  Lorenzo  and 
Sarah  Hale  (Woodman)  George.     (Married  in  Georgetown.) 

Oct.    20.    George  Whalen   (Topsfield),  son  of  Andrew  and   Lizzie   (Lockery) 
Whalen. 
Minnie  Elizabeth  (Levis)  Hicks  (Newtonville,  Mass.),  dau.  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  Ann  (Munro)  Levis.     (Married  in  Newtonville.) 

Oct.    20.    Jarnes  Angus  MacDonald    (Topsfield),  son  of  Alexander  Donald  and 
Catherine  (MacDonald)  MacDonald. 
Catherine  Annie  Macintosh  (Salem),  dau.  of  Hugh  and  Jane  (Cameron) 
Macintosh.     (Married  in  Boston.) 


VITAL   STATISTICS   FOR   1920.  143 

Nov.  13.     William  W.  Roberts   (Boxford),   son  of  Nathaniel  and  Anna  A.  (Wal- 
lace) Roberts. 
Bertha  C.  (Waitt)  Carter  (Boxford),  dau.  of  Job  C.  and  Betsy  T.  (Ma- 
son) Waitt.     (Married  in  Topsfield). 

Nov.  27.    Saverio  Procaccini    (Topsfield),   son   of  John  and  Jennie    (Maiella) 
Procaccini. 
Josephine  Monteealvo    (Providence,  R.  I.),   dau.   of  Joseph  and  Sadie 
(Toro)  Monteealvo.     (Married  in  Salem.) 

Dec.   11.     George  Wilmot    (Topsfield),   son  of  Woodford  I.  and  Helen  (Tingley) 
Wilmot 
Anna  V.  Johanson    (Topsfield),   dau.   of  August  and  Ida  Johanson. 
(Married  in  Lynn.) 


1920. 

Jan. 

10. 

Jan. 

14. 

Mar. 

4. 

Mar. 

25. 

Mar. 

30. 

Apr. 

12. 

May 

16. 

July 

18. 

Aug. 

1. 

Aug. 

17. 

Aug. 

21. 

Aug. 

30. 

Sept. 

17. 

Sept. 

29. 

Oct. 

1. 

Oct. 

22. 

DEATHS. 


Charles  F.  Welch,  son  of  William  and  Abbie  (Dudley)  Welch.    Aged 

61  yrs.,  9  mos.,  23  dys. 
Jacob  Arthur  Towne,  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Towne.    Aged  71  yrs., 

8  mos.,  1  dy.     (Died  in  Beverly  Hospital.) 
George  F.  Bowser,  son  of  Joseph  and  Henrietta  Bowser.    Aged  43  yrs. 

5  mos.,  16  dys. 
Burnham,  son  of  Waylandand  Florence  (Robertson)  Burnham. 

Still  born.     (Died  in  Salem  Hospital.) 
Hester  A.  Pierce,  widow  of  William  Pierce,  dau.  of  Reuben  and  Edith 

Bowdoin.    Aged  85  yrs.,  7  mos.,  28  dys.     (Died  in  Littleton,  Mass.) 
Mary  A.  Roderick,  widow  of  Domingus  Roderick,  dau.  of  Edward  and 

Julia  K.  (MacBeth)  Manning.    Aged  85  yrs.,  2  mos.,  9  dys. 
Charles  W.  Floyd.    Aged  68  yrs.     (Died  in  Danvers,  Mass.) 
Elizabeth  Dole  Peabody,  dau.  of  Charles  J.  and  Annie  R.  (Smith)  Pea- 
body.     Aged  43  yrs.,  9  mos.,  6  dys. 
James  Vincent  McDonald,  son  of  James  V.  and  Stella  May  (MacKay) 

McDonald.     Aged  15  dys. 
Sarah  Rea  Bradstreet,  dau.  of  John  and  Sarah  (Rea)  Bradstreet.  Aged 

81  yrs.,  3  mos.,  18  dys. 
Mario  Paglia  Roberto,  son  of  Alphonse  and  Grazia  (Paglia)  Roberto. 

Aged  14  dys. 
Mary  E.  Todd,  widow  of  Asahel  H.  Todd,  dau.  of  Albert  and  Hannah 

(Hayward)  Perley.    Aged  77  yrs.,  11  mos.,  26  dys. 
Henry  B.  Williams,    son  of  Thomas  H.  and  Susan  M.    (Richards) 

Williams.     Aged  62  yrs.,  10  mos.,  24  dys. 

Thomas  Fuller,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Esther  (Wilkins)  Fuller.  Aged 
80  yrs. 

Harriet  Rose  Towne,  dau.  of  Benjamin  Boardman  and  Esther  (Pea- 
body)  Towne.    Aged  81  yrs.,  9  mos.,  28  dys. 

Abbie  A,  Smith,  dau.  of  Augustus  W.  and  Harriet  B.  (Shaw)  Smith. 
Aged  57  yrs.,  5  mos.,  1  dy. 


144 


CHRONOLOGY  OF  EVENTS  IN  1920. 


DEATHS  IN  OTHER  PLACES— INTERMENT  IN  TOPSFIELD 

1920. 

Jan.    30.  John  Warren  Ray,  died  in  Haverhill,  Mass.  Aged  76  yrs.,  6  mos.,  29  dys. 

Feb.     7.  Jeremiah  Hanlon,  died  in  Danvers,  Mass.     Aged  64  yrs.,  10  mos. 

Feb.   16.  Carrie  Winslow,  died  in  Danvers,  Mass.     Aged  60  yrs.,  8  mos.,  13  dys. 

May   13.  Abbie  K.  Roote,  died  in  Barre,  Mass.    Aged  88  yrs.,  1  mo.,  4  dys. 

May   17.  James  N.  McPhee,  died  in  Beverly,  Mass.     Aged  73  yrs.,  11  mos.,  2  dys. 

June   19.  Mary  Balch,  died  in  Danvers,  Mass.    Aged  76  yrs.,  3  mos.,  9  dys. 

June  22.  Mary  E.  Potter,  died  in  Danvers,  Mass.    Aged  65  yrs.,  3  mos.  20  dys. 

Sept.  28.  Mary  E.  Welch,  died  in  Methuen,  Mass.    Aged  91  yrs.,  10  mos.,  10  dys. 

Nov.  22.  Esther  Dustin  Thompson,  died  in  Salem,  Mass.    Aged  24  yrs.,  4  mos. 

23  dys. 

Dec.   18.  Mary  J.  Waters,  died  in  Lowell,  Mass.    Aged  83  yrs.,  4  mos.,  5  dys. 


CHRONOLOGY  OF  EVENTS  IN  1920 


January  6.         Topsfield  Community  Club  votes  to  maintain  a  Visiting  and  School 

nurse. 
Severe  winter  with  heavy  fall  of  snow. 
March  1.  No  trains  for  three  days  because  of  snow  storm. 

March  9.  No  trains  for  three  days  because  of  ice  storm.     Men  walked  home 

from  Salem.    Grocer's  stocks  of  food  supplies  ran  low. 
March  17.         Ipswich  river  flooded ;  Rowley  bridge  and  Balch's  bridge  closed  to 

,  traffic. 

August  James  Frost  of  Newburyport  appointed   principal  of  the  High 

School. 
September  4.    Annual  Cattle  Show  and  Fair. 


BUILDINGS  CONSTRUCTED  DURING  THE  YEAR  1920 


Webster  estate,  River  St.,  purchased  by  John  L.  Salstonstall  of  Beverly  and  the 
house  remodelled  and  additions  made ;  the  barn  taken  down  ;  the  Mrs.  Dora 
Poole  house,  South  Main  St.,  moved  over  the  hill  and  relocated  on  River  St. 
where  it  was  remodelled. 

Fred  Watson  house,  Prospect  St.  (formerly  the  Conley  house  on  River  St.),  re- 
moved to  the  Price  estate  on  the  other  side  of  Prospect  St. 

Barn  at  the  Hoyt  place,  Ipswich  St.  near  Ipswich  line,  owned  by  Bradley  W. 
Palmer,  taken  down. 

Charles  Sweeney  house,  Boxford  Road,  removed  to  Pemberton  St. 

Jacob  Towne  house,  High  St.  near  Summer  St.,  bought  by  Charles  J.  Peabody 
and  remodelled ;  new  outbuildings  erected. 


-"1 
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